Meaning & use
a kind person
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Someone who treats other people with care, warmth, and a wish to help them.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase. You can also say 'She is kind' without 'person'.
Patterns
- be a kind person
- a kind person to someone
My grandmother is a kind person who always listens to everyone's problems.
He is a kind person to animals and never hurts them.
Being a kind person means thinking about how others feel.
phrasefixed phraseapproving
A person of a gentle, considerate nature, often used to describe someone's character in a positive way.
Grammar: Often used after 'be' or 'seem'. It describes a lasting quality, not a single action.
Patterns
- seem like a kind person
- such a kind person
She seems like a kind person because she helps her neighbors without being asked.
Everyone says he is such a kind person.
You can tell she is a kind person from the way she speaks to children.
Common combinations
- a kind and generous person
- He is a kind and generous person who donates to charity every year.
- a kind person at heart
- Even though he looks serious, he is a kind person at heart.
- a truly kind person
- She is a truly kind person who never says a bad word about anyone.
- a kind person to be around
- He is a kind person to be around because he always makes you feel welcome.
Synonyms and how they differ
- caring
- Focuses on showing concern for others' feelings and needs; 'kind' is broader and can also mean helpful or gentle.
- compassionate
- Stronger and more formal than 'kind'; it suggests feeling deep sympathy and wanting to relieve suffering.
- considerate
- Emphasizes thinking about other people's comfort and feelings; 'kind' can be more about actions than thoughtfulness.
Opposites
Word family
- kindness noun
- The quality of being kind; a kind act.
- kindly adverb
- In a kind way; also an adjective meaning kind.
- kindhearted adjective
- Having a kind and sympathetic nature.
Commonly confused: a kind person or a kind of person?
a kind person vs a kind of person
This means a type or category of person, not a nice person. 'What kind of person is she?' asks about her type, not her kindness.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'a kind person' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'a kind person' is followed by a relative clause with 'who' when you describe what the person does. Option 1 uses 'to help' incorrectly; option 3 uses 'of helping' which is not natural; option 4 uses 'for help' with a base verb, which is ungrammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a kind person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.