Page 145 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

70 Speaking

The verbs in the table below describe how loudly or quietly a person is speaking and also,
often, indicate mood. These verbs are all followed by clauses beginning with 'that'.

verb loudness most likely mood

whisper soft -
murmur soft romantic or complaining
mumble soft (and unclear) nervous or insecure
mutter soft irritated
shout loud angry or excited
scream loud (usually without words) frightened or excited
shriek loud (and shrill) frightened or amused
stutter, stammer neutral nervous or excited

The following verbs all indicate something about how the speaker feels. What they usually
indicate is given in the feeling column. (Note: s.b. = somebody s.t. = something)

I verb patterns feeling verb patterns feeling
boast to s.b. about proud of complain to s.b. about displeased
s.t. / that ... oneself s.t. / that ...
insist on s.t. / that ... determined maintain that ... confident
object that.. . / unhappy confess that ... / repentant
to + ing to + ing
threaten that. .. / aggressive urge s.b. to do s.t. encouraging
to do s.t.
~ argue with s.b. not in beg s.b. to do s.t.1 desperate
for s.t.
about s.t. /
agreement
that.. .
I groan that ... despair, pain grumble about s.t/ displeased

It is also possible to give an idea of the way someone speaks by using a speaking verb, plus
an adverb. For example, 'He said proudly'. 'She spoke angrily'. This is most common in
written style.
Some useful adverbs describing the way someone is feeling while they are speaking.
If someone feels angry: angrily crossly furiously bitterly
If someone feels unhappy: unhappily gloomily miserably uneasily sadly
If someone feels happy: happily cheerfully gladly hopefully eagerly
If someone feels worried: anxiously nervously desperately hopelessly
Other useful adverbs are boldly, excitedly, gratefully, impatiently, passionately, reluctantly,
shyly, sincerely.

140 English Vocabulary in Use