2017-10-25
1873
Amal is pessimistic while Nita is optimistic - he always expects the worst to happen while she looks on the bright side.
It is strange that one of the twins is so extroverted while the other is so introverted – Ben loves being the focus of attention while Bill would far rather be alone with his thoughts.
I feel very tense {or wound-up/stressed-out**) after a very busy day at work but, after a hot bath and a nice cup of tea, I'll soon feel relaxed.
Jane is very sensible - she'd never do anything stupid, In other words, she's very practical and down-to-earth.
Rupert is very sensitive - he gets very upset (or worked-up, more colloquial), if he feels people are criticizing him.
Attitude towards other people
Enjoying others' company: sociable, gregarious*
Disagreeing with others: quarrelsome, argumentative
Taking pleasure in others' pain: cruel, sadistic
Relaxed in attitude to self and others: easy-going, even-tempered, laid-back**
Not polite to others: impolite, rude, ill-mannered, discourteous*
Telling the truth to others: honest, trustworthy, reliable, sincere Unhappy if others have what one does not have oneself: jealous, envious
Some characteristics can be either positive or negative depending on your point of view.
The words in the right-hand column mean roughly the same as the words in the left-hand column except that they have negative rather than positive connotations.
determined → obstinate stubborn pig-headed
thrifty/economical → stingy mean tight-fisted miserly*
self-assured/confident → self-important arrogant full of oneself**
unconventional/original → eccentric odd peculiar weird**
frank/direct/open → blunt abrupt brusque curt
broad-minded → unprincipled permissive
inquiring* → inquisitive nosy**
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generous → extravagant
innocent → naive
ambitious → pushy**
assertive → aggressive bossy**
*These words are much more common in written than in spoken English.
**These words are much mote common in spoken than in written English.
Exercises
Match these words with their opposites.
1 clever introverted
2 extroverted tight-fisted
3 rude courteous
4 cruel gregarious
5 generous kind-hearted
6 unsociable half-witted
Do you think that the speaker likes or dislikes the people in these sentences?
1 Di's very thrifty. 5 Dick's quite bossy.
2 Molly's usually frank. 6 I find Dave self-important.
3 Liz is quite broad-minded. 7 Don't you think Jim's nosy?
4 Sam can be aggressive. 8 Jill is very original.
Reword the sentences in exercise 2 to give the opposite impression (negative rather than positive or vice versa).
EXAMPLE: D’s is very stingy.
Magazines often publish questionnaires which are supposed to analyze aspects of your character. Look at the words below and then match them to the corresponding question.
EXAMPLE: If you arrange to meet at 7 p.m., do you arrive at 7 p.m.?- reliable
argumentative
sensitive
sociable
extravagant
assertive
inquisitive
1. Do you prefer to be in the company of other people?
2. Do you find it easy to tell your boss if you feel he or she has treated you badly?
3. Do you always look out of the. window if you hear a car draw up?
4. Do you often buy your friends presents for no particular reason?
5. Do you frequently disagree with what other people say?
6. Do you lie awake at night if someone has said something unkind to you?
5. What questions like those in exercise 4 could you ask to find out if a person is the following:
1 thrifty 3 sensible 5 even-tempered 7 obstinate
2 blunt 4 intelligent 6 original 8 stressed-out
