A1 noun Neutral #3,858 most common

grateful

/ˈɡreɪtfəl/

Feeling or showing thanks to someone for something they have done or given to you. It is used to express appreciation for help, kindness, or a positive situation.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I am grateful for your help with my homework.

I am thankful for your assistance with my school assignments.

2

We are grateful for your generous contribution to our charity.

We appreciate your kind donation to our organization.

3

I'm so grateful you could make it to my party!

I'm really happy and thankful that you came to my celebration.

Word Family

Noun
gratitude
Adverb
gratefully
Adjective
grateful
Related
ingratitude
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'GRATitude'. You feel GRATeful when you have GRATitude. Don't think of the word 'GREAT'.

Quick Quiz

I am very ______ to you for saving my cat.

Correct!

The correct answer is: grateful

Examples

1

I am grateful for your help with my homework.

everyday

I am thankful for your assistance with my school assignments.

2

We are grateful for your generous contribution to our charity.

formal

We appreciate your kind donation to our organization.

3

I'm so grateful you could make it to my party!

informal

I'm really happy and thankful that you came to my celebration.

4

The study suggests that grateful people experience better sleep quality.

academic

The research indicates that people who feel thankful sleep better.

5

We are grateful for your continued business and support.

business

We appreciate your ongoing professional partnership.

Word Family

Noun
gratitude
Adverb
gratefully
Adjective
grateful
Related
ingratitude

Common Collocations

deeply grateful feeling very much thanks
grateful for thankful because of something
grateful to thankful toward a person
eternally grateful thankful forever
extremely grateful very thankful

Common Phrases

be grateful for small mercies

to be thankful for small good things in a bad situation

show one's gratitude

to act in a way that shows you are thankful

I'd be grateful if...

a polite way to ask someone to do something

Often Confused With

grateful vs greatful

This is a common misspelling; the correct word starts with 'grate' from 'gratitude', not 'great'.

grateful vs gratuitous

This means unnecessary or uncalled for, whereas grateful means feeling thanks.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'grateful to' for people (e.g., I am grateful to you) and 'grateful for' for things or actions (e.g., I am grateful for the gift).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'grateful with' or 'grateful of' instead of the correct 'grateful for'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'GRATitude'. You feel GRATeful when you have GRATitude. Don't think of the word 'GREAT'.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin word 'gratus', which means pleasing or thankful.

Grammar Patterns

grateful to [someone] grateful for [something] grateful + that clause
🌍

Cultural Context

In English-speaking cultures, saying you are grateful is a common part of social etiquette and 'thank you' notes.

Quick Quiz

I am very ______ to you for saving my cat.

Correct!

The correct answer is: grateful

Related Grammar Rules

More Emotions words

delighted

A1

Delighted means being very happy and pleased about something. It is a stronger word than 'happy' and is used to show high levels of satisfaction or joy.

satisfied

A1

Feeling happy or pleased because you have what you want or need. It is used to describe a person who is content with a result or a situation.

glad

A1

Feeling pleasure, joy, or satisfaction about a specific situation or event. It is a common way to express happiness in response to news or a meeting.

excited

A1

To feel very happy, energetic, and eager about something that is going to happen. It describes a positive emotion where you are looking forward to an event or activity.

thrilled

A1

Thrilled describes a feeling of being extremely happy and excited. It is used when something very positive happens that makes you feel a sudden wave of delight.

enthusiastic

A1

To be enthusiastic means showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. It describes a person who is very excited and positive about something they are doing or a topic they like.

hopeful

A1

A person who is hoping or trying to achieve a specific goal, such as getting a job or winning a competition. It is commonly used to describe someone who wants to succeed in politics, sports, or entertainment.

enjoy

A1

The feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get from an activity or experience. It describes the state of having a good time or liking something very much.

gentle

A1

Describes someone or something that is kind, mild, and calm. It refers to a way of acting that is not rough, violent, or loud.

depressed

A1

Depressed is an adjective used to describe a person who feels very sad and hopeless for a long period of time. It is more serious than just feeling unhappy and often involves a lack of energy or interest in life.

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