Grateful vs I am very thankful for that

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Grateful

Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective

I am very thankful for that

Top 2,000 (common)
 GratefulI am very thankful for that
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈɡreɪtfəl//🇺🇸 //ˈɡreɪtfəl//🇬🇧 //aɪ æm ˈvɛri ˈθæŋkfl fɔː ðæt//🇺🇸 //aɪ æm ˈvɛri ˈθæŋkfl fɔr ðæt//
MeaningFeeling thankful for somethingI am really grateful for that.
ExampleI am grateful for all the help you provided.I am very thankful for that gift you gave me.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsgrateful for help, grateful to someone, grateful for the opportunitythankful for help, thankful for support, thankful for friends, thankful for opportunities, thankful for kindness
Antonymsungrateful, thankless-
Common mistakesUsing 'grateful' without 'to' or 'for', e.g., 'I am grateful you.', Confusing 'grateful' with 'gratitude', which is a noun., Mixing up 'grateful' with 'happy', which have different meanings.Using 'thankful' incorrectly as an adjective for people instead of feelings., Confusing 'thankful' with 'grateful' in terms of levels of appreciation., Omitting 'for that' may change the meaning.
Usage notesUse 'grateful' to express appreciation, often in a formal or semi-formal context. In informal speech, 'thankful' may be more common.Used to express gratitude. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly formal situations.

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Grateful

Frequently asked questions: Grateful vs I am very thankful for that

What's the difference between Grateful and I am very thankful for that?

Grateful: Feeling thankful for something I am very thankful for that: I am really grateful for that.

Can you show an example of each?

Grateful: I am grateful for all the help you provided. I am very thankful for that: I am very thankful for that gift you gave me.

Can I use Grateful and I am very thankful for that interchangeably?

Not always. Grateful and I am very thankful for that are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.