I was feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe how you felt at a particular time. For example: "I was feeling exhausted, so I decided to take a nap."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was feeling triumphant.

The New Yorker

Already I was feeling calmer.

Independent

I was feeling pretty sad.

The New York Times

But I was feeling generous.

The New Yorker

Now I was feeling it.

The New York Times

I was feeling very entrepreneurial.

The New York Times - Magazine

I was feeling so good.

Independent

I was feeling jittery again.

The New York Times

I was feeling much better.

Independent

I was feeling disoriented".

The New York Times

"I was feeling bad.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was feeling" to describe a past emotional or physical state. Be specific about the emotion or sensation following the phrase for clarity and impact. For example, "I was feeling anxious" or "I was feeling a sharp pain".

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when describing a past experience. Ensure the verb tense following "I was feeling" remains consistent with the narrative's timeline. For example, instead of "I was feeling tired, so I will take a nap", use "I was feeling tired, so I took a nap".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was feeling" functions as a verb phrase introducing a description of a past emotional or physical state. It's a common way to express personal experiences and subjective feelings, as evidenced by the numerous examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was feeling" is a grammatically sound and prevalent phrase employed to articulate past emotional or physical conditions. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves primarily to convey personal experiences and subjective perceptions. The phrase enjoys widespread use across diverse registers, although it is particularly common in news and media outlets. When utilizing "I was feeling", ensure clarity by specifying the emotion or sensation being described and maintaining consistency in verb tense. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "I felt" or "I experienced". Be aware of the need to be specific about what triggered the state that you describe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I felt

Omits "was" for a slightly shorter, more direct expression of feeling.

I experienced

Replaces "feeling" with "experienced" to emphasize the sensation or emotion as something undergone.

I began to feel

Highlights the beginning of the emotional state.

I found myself feeling

Emphasizes a gradual or unexpected onset of the feeling.

I had a feeling of

Adds a layer of abstraction by specifying "a feeling of" followed by an emotion or sensation.

I sensed

Implies a more intuitive or less defined emotional state.

My mood was

Shifts the focus to the general state of mind rather than a specific emotion.

I was under the impression

Suggests a belief or understanding formed from a feeling or intuition.

It was my impression

Similar to "I was under the impression" but more formal and impersonal.

I picked up the vibe

An informal way to describe sensing or feeling an atmosphere or emotion.

FAQs

How can I use "I was feeling" in a sentence?

Use "I was feeling" to describe a past state of emotion or physical sensation. For example, "I was feeling happy after receiving the good news" or "I was feeling unwell, so I stayed home from work".

What are some alternatives to "I was feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "I felt", "I experienced", or "I had a feeling of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I was feeling" or should I use "I felt"?

Both "I was feeling" and "I felt" are grammatically correct. "I was feeling" suggests a continuous or ongoing state, while "I felt" describes a more immediate or instantaneous feeling.

What's the difference between "I was feeling" and "I am feeling"?

"I was feeling" refers to a past emotion or sensation, whereas "I am feeling" describes a present one. For example, "I was feeling nervous before the interview" (past) versus "I am feeling nervous about the upcoming presentation" (present).