grateful to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grateful to be" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most often used to express appreciation for the present moment. For example, "I am so grateful to be alive and healthy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They're grateful to be working.

The New York Times

"I'm grateful to be here.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm grateful to be so appreciated.

The New York Times

Mostly, he felt grateful to be alive.

The New Yorker

"I am so grateful to be here".

The New York Times

They were grateful to be there.

The Guardian

And he is grateful to be alive.

The Guardian

Rather, they are grateful to be gone.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm just grateful to be doing this".

The New York Times

Stevens is merely grateful to be playing.

The Guardian - Sport

Still, she was grateful to be alive.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grateful to be" to express sincere appreciation for a current situation or opportunity. It's best suited for moments of reflection and thankfulness.

Common error

Avoid using "grateful to be" in contexts where simple acknowledgment would suffice. Reserve it for expressing genuine feelings of gratitude.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grateful to be" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject, expressing a state of thankfulness or appreciation for a current situation or existence. It typically follows a form of the verb "to be", such as "am", "is", "are", "was", or "were". According to Ludwig AI, it is used to show appreciation for the present moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grateful to be" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey thankfulness or appreciation for a situation or state of being. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in expressing appreciation for the present moment. It is most frequently found in news and media, but is also present in academic and formal business contexts. When writing, it is important to reserve it for situations where you want to emphasize sincere feelings of gratitude, as overuse in trivial situations can dilute its impact. Alternatives such as "thankful to be", "appreciative to be", and "blessed to be" offer similar, yet nuanced ways to express thankfulness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thankful to be

Synonymous; replaces "grateful" with "thankful", conveying a similar sense of appreciation.

appreciative to be

Uses "appreciative" instead of "grateful", suggesting a valuing or recognition of something.

blessed to be

Implies a sense of divine favor or good fortune in addition to gratitude.

fortunate to be

Highlights the luck or good fortune of being in a particular situation.

lucky to be

Similar to "fortunate", but emphasizes the element of chance or randomness.

glad to be

Expresses happiness or pleasure in addition to gratitude.

happy to be

Synonymous with "glad to be", conveying a feeling of contentment and gratitude.

privileged to be

Suggests a special honor or advantage in being in a certain position.

humbled to be

Emphasizes a sense of modesty and respect in addition to gratitude.

indebted to be

Conveys a feeling of obligation or owing thanks for something.

FAQs

How can I use "grateful to be" in a sentence?

You can use "grateful to be" to express thankfulness for a situation or opportunity. For instance, "I am grateful to be working on this project" or "She is grateful to be alive after the accident".

What are some alternatives to saying "grateful to be"?

Alternatives include "thankful to be", "appreciative to be", or "blessed to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I am grateful for" instead of "I am grateful to be"?

Yes, both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Grateful for" is used to express thanks for something specific, while "grateful to be" expresses thankfulness for being in a particular state or situation.

What is the difference between "grateful to be" and "thankful to be"?

While very similar, "grateful to be" often emphasizes a deeper sense of appreciation for an overall situation, whereas "thankful to be" can be used for more specific instances. In most contexts, they are interchangeable.