Cool MateGrateful vs I am very thankful for that vs Thankful
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)
Thankful
Top 2,000 (common)
| Grateful | I am very thankful for that | Thankful | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡreɪtfəl//🇺🇸 //ˈɡreɪtfəl// | 🇬🇧 //aɪ æm ˈvɛri ˈθæŋkfl fɔː ðæt//🇺🇸 //aɪ æm ˈvɛri ˈθæŋkfl fɔr ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //ˈθæŋk.fəl//🇺🇸 //ˈθæŋk.fəl// |
| Meaning | Feeling thankful for something | I am really grateful for that. | Feeling grateful or appreciative. |
| Example | I am grateful for all the help you provided. | I am very thankful for that gift you gave me. | I am thankful for my supportive family. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | ||
| Collocations | grateful for help, grateful to someone, grateful for the opportunity | thankful for help, thankful for support, thankful for friends, thankful for opportunities, thankful for kindness | thankful for, feel thankful, be thankful, thankful attitude |
| Antonyms | ungrateful, thankless | - | ungrateful, thankless, discontented |
| Common mistakes | Using '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. | Mixing up 'thankful' with 'grateful'; they are similar but not identical., Using 'thankful' without specifying what you are thankful for., Confusing 'thankful' with 'thankful to'; correct usage requires a preposition. |
| Usage notes | Use '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. | Use 'thankful' to express gratitude in various situations. It's appropriate in both personal and professional contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Grateful vs I am very thankful for that vs Thankful
What's the difference between Grateful, I am very thankful for that, and Thankful?
Grateful: Feeling thankful for something I am very thankful for that: I am really grateful for that. Thankful: Feeling grateful or appreciative.
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. Thankful: I am thankful for my supportive family.
Can I use Grateful, I am very thankful for that, and Thankful interchangeably?
Not always. Grateful, I am very thankful for that, and Thankful 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.