grateful

grateful — adjective

1. feeling or showing appreciation toward someone who has done something helpful or

1.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling or showing appreciation toward someone who has done something helpful or kind for you

例句

Théo was deeply grateful to his aunt for helping him pay for college.

grateful + to + person + for + noun/gerund

We are extremely grateful that the firefighters arrived before the flames spread.

grateful + that-clause

同義詞
  • thankful

    More common for relief about avoiding something negative (e.g. 'thankful it did not rain'), while grateful focuses on appreciation for someone's deliberate kindness.

  • appreciative

    Emphasises recognising and valuing what was done, often in formal or professional contexts.

  • indebted

    Stronger than grateful, suggesting a feeling of moral obligation to return the kindness.

反義詞
  • ungrateful

    Not feeling or showing thanks for kindness received.

  • unappreciative

    Failing to recognise the value or effort of something done for you.

文法句型

be grateful + for + noun/gerund

be grateful + that-clause

be grateful + to-infinitive

be grateful + to + person

用法筆記

The pattern 'I/we would be grateful if you could…' is a common polite way to make a request in formal letters, emails, and official situations.

常見錯誤

❌I very grateful for your help.
✅I am very grateful for your help.
💡Grateful is an adjective and needs a linking verb like 'am', 'is', or 'are'.
❌She grateful my kindness.
✅She was grateful for my kindness.
💡The preposition 'for' is required before the thing you are grateful about.

2. giving a comfortable or pleasant feeling, especially when it brings relief from

2.形容詞C1
釋義

giving a comfortable or pleasant feeling, especially when it brings relief from something difficult, hot, tiring, or unpleasant

例句

After the long climb, the hikers welcomed the grateful shade of the pine forest.

attributive use: grateful + noun

There was a grateful warmth in the kitchen where the bread had just finished baking.

同義詞
  • pleasant

    More common and informal; works in everyday conversation where grateful would sound old-fashioned.

  • comforting

    Emphasises emotional or physical relief, a close match for this sense's meaning.

  • welcome

    Highlights the sense of relief from something unwanted (e.g. 'a welcome break').

反義詞

文法句型

grateful + noun

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used attributively (before a noun) and is found mainly in literary or descriptive writing. It is not used in everyday conversation. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 does not involve feeling thankful toward a person — it describes a physical thing or situation that gives comfort.

常見錯誤

❌The weather feels grateful today.
✅The weather feels pleasant today.
💡Sense 2 must come before a noun ('grateful warmth'), not after a linking verb.