· 13 lists · 467 words

People and feelings

How to say who someone is and how they are.

What holds these lists together

The lists for what there is to say about a person once name and job are out of the way: where they come from and what has happened to them, how they are feeling, and how they usually behave. All three questions come up in the same conversations — getting to know someone, writing a reference, talking about a third party. The fine distinctions are where an English speaker slips. Simpatico does not mean «sympathetic» but likeable, easy to get on with, and antipatico is someone you simply cannot warm to.

The 13 lists

B2Origins and life eventsFamily tree, certificates, inheritance, farewell.48 words B2Feelings by degreeFrom mildly annoyed to lost for words — finer than happy and sad.27 words B2Describing people preciselyBeyond simpatico and difficile: adjectives that make a difference.33 words C1PetsFrom the vaccination book to who feeds the animal in the holidays.35 words C1From sharp-witted to gullibleFrom sharp-witted to gullible — with the tone that comes with each word.43 words C1Look, expression, postureForty-nine verbs for what happens without words.49 words C1Feelings with namesFrom unease to awe — a word of its own for every shade.50 words C1Parental leave and family at workThe applications, the deadlines and the conversation with the employer.35 words C1Small talkThe ten minutes in which nothing is discussed and everything is decided.35 words C2Developmental psychologyWhat comes in which order, and what about it is not settled.21 words C2Social roles and relationshipsRank, closeness, obligation — the order nobody states.37 words C2Social psychologyWhat people do because others are there.23 words C2Ageing as a field of researchWhat comes with age, and what merely often comes along with it.31 words

Spread across the levels

The category runs across the levels — it is an area, not a difficulty. If you practise it, you can also choose a level at the top of the practice page and then get only the part that sits there.

Level	Words	Share
B1	18	4 %
B2	80	17 %
C1	257	55 %
C2	112	24 %

Practise this category

Multiple choice and gaps, across all 13 lists and all 467 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.