Passion vs That emotion is at the foundation

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

Passion

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun

That emotion is at the foundation

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Passion
 PassionThat emotion is at the foundation
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈpæʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpæʃn/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt ɪˈməʊʃən ɪz æt ðə faʊnˈdeɪʃən//🇺🇸 //ðæt ɪˈmoʊʃən ɪz æt ðə faʊnˈdeɪʃən//
MeaningA strong feeling of love or enthusiasm for something.That feeling is the base.
ExampleHer passion for painting is evident in every stroke of her brush.That emotion is at the foundation of her decision to leave.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsgrand, great, all-consuming, surge, wave, arouse, awaken, ignite, cool, wane, drive somebody, with passion, passion between, passion for, a crime of passion, full of passion, a night of passion, grand, great, all-consuming, surge, wave, arouse, awaken, ignite, cool, wane, drive somebody, with passion, passion between, passion for, a crime of passion, full of passion, a night of passionemotion is at the foundation, strong emotion at the foundation, emotion serves as the foundation
Antonymsindifference, apathy, disinterest-
Common mistakesConfused with 'compassion' which is about empathy., Using 'passion' as a verb instead of a noun., Mixing up the meaning with 'fascination', which is less intense.Confused about using 'emotion' instead of 'feeling'., Using 'foundation' too literally instead of metaphorically., Incorrectly placing 'that' far from 'emotion' in the sentence.
Usage notesUsed frequently in both spoken and written English. Suitable for personal contexts, but can also be used in professional settings when discussing interests or motivations. Avoid using in overly casual contexts.Use in discussions about feelings or reasons behind actions. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts.

See it in real clips

Passion
That emotion is at the foundation

Frequently asked questions: Passion vs That emotion is at the foundation

What's the difference between Passion and That emotion is at the foundation?

Passion: A strong feeling of love or enthusiasm for something. That emotion is at the foundation: That feeling is the base.

Which is more common: Passion and That emotion is at the foundation?

Passion is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Passion: Her passion for painting is evident in every stroke of her brush. That emotion is at the foundation: That emotion is at the foundation of her decision to leave.

Can I use Passion and That emotion is at the foundation interchangeably?

Not always. Passion and That emotion is at the foundation 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.

Related comparisons