Vocabulary

= John: I’m really sorry that all Peter’s plans have been frustrated.

= John expressed (his) sorrow that Peter’s plans had been frustrated.

= Peter: It’s a pity that I can’t do anything about it.

= Peter wished he could do something about it.

Peter expressed regret at being unable to do anything about it.

1. John said with sorrow/sadness/melancholy (that) his plans had been frustrated.

2. John said in despair/grief (that) his plans had been frustrated.

3. John said in a cheerless / sad / melancholy / gloomy / miserable/pathetic tone/voice (that) his plans had been frustrated.

4. John said sadly/gloomily/pathetically (that) his plans had been frustrated.

5. John

felt

showed

expressed

(his)

(deep)

(great)

(keen)

(profound)

sorrow

over that loss.

at her death.

for having let

him down.

6. John felt / showed / expressed (a) (deep / all-pervading) gloom about/over the situation.

7. John felt/showed/expressed (deep/profound) sadness over the situation.

8. John

felt

showed

expressed

suffered

(bitter)

(deep)

(inconsolable)

(profound)

(overwhelming)

grief

for his friend.

over her death.

at bad news.

9. The news of defeat

drove John to despair.

filled John with despair.

10. It

depressed

saddened

John

to hear/learn (the) bad news.

that he hadn’t heard from them for a

long time.

11. The thought of Peter’s arrival depressed John.

12. It was

depressing

sad

pathetic

to hear/learn about John’s failure.

that business was at a standstill.

13. John

was

became

got

grew

depressed

depressed

despondent

gloomy

unhappy

unhappy

unhappy

sad

sad

at the news of the plane crash.

to hear/learn the news.

about/over/at his prospects.

about/over the future.

about/at/over the news.

to hear/learn the news.

that they wouldn’t come.

about the situation.

that they couldn’t come.

1. John

felt

showed

expressed

(deep)

(keen)

regret

at/over/for his mistake.

at/over being unable to

do the job.

2. John felt/showed pity for his friend.

3. John

had/took pity

took compassion

on the orphan.

4. John

had

felt

expressed

(deep)

(great)

(profound)

(little)

sympathy for Peter.

5. John lavished sympathy on the homeless family.

6. John

had

felt

showed

demonstrated

displayed

(deep)

(profound)

(strong)

compassion for Peter.

7. John was filled with pity/compassion for his friend.

8. John pitied his friend for his failure.

9. John sympathised

with his friend’s problems.

with his friend about his failure.

10. The story

moved her to tears (of sympathy).

moved her deeply/greatly/profoundly.

11. Mary was moved

to tears.

with pity/compassion.

by her friend’s sad story/entreaties.

12. The story stirred her pity/sympathy.

13. John was stirred to the depths by the tragic news.

1. John regretted

his decision to leave his home town.

leaving/having left his home town.

his friend’s leaving his home town.

that he had failed to help his friend.

2. John regretted to say / tell / inform Peter (that) he was deeply in debt. (formal)

3. John said/heard with regret (that) his friend was unwell.

4. John wished (that)

Peter had more common sense.

Peter hadn’t gone to Africa.

Peter could play chess.

the weather would clear up.

5. Much to his regret, John was unable to accept Peter’s invitation.

6. John was / felt sympathetic / compassionate to / towards /with his friend.