Meaning & use
generous spirit
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Meanings
phrasecountable
A person who is naturally kind and willing to give help, money, or praise.
Grammar: Countable when it means a person: he is a generous spirit. Use 'a' with the singular.
Patterns
- a generous spirit
- be a generous spirit
Everyone in the office knew him as a generous spirit who never refused a favor.
She was a generous spirit, always the first to donate or volunteer.
Our neighbor is a generous spirit who shares her garden's vegetables with everyone.
phrasesingular
A warm, giving feeling or mood that fills a place, event, or group.
Grammar: Often used with 'in' or 'of': there was a generous spirit in the room. Usually singular and not used with 'the'.
Patterns
- a generous spirit in something
- the generous spirit of something
There was a generous spirit in the room when the whole team shared the credit.
The festival is famous for its generous spirit and free food for visitors.
Her speech captured the generous spirit of the occasion.
Common combinations
- a generous spirit who helps others
- He is a generous spirit who helps others without being asked.
- the generous spirit of the occasion
- The generous spirit of the occasion made everyone relax.
- a generous spirit in the room
- You could feel a generous spirit in the room after the announcement.
- be known as a generous spirit
- She is known as a generous spirit in the local community.
Synonyms and how they differ
- kind soul
- Kind soul is warmer and more affectionate, and it usually describes a person; generous spirit can also describe a mood or atmosphere.
- big-hearted person
- Big-hearted person focuses on warmth and love; generous spirit focuses on willingness to give.
Opposites
Word family
- generous adjective
- Willing to give money, help, or praise freely.
- generosity noun
- The quality of being willing to give.
- generously adverb
- In a giving or plentiful way.
Commonly confused: generous spirit or generosity of spirit?
generous spirit vs generosity of spirit
Generosity of spirit is an uncountable phrase for a kind attitude; 'a generous spirit' is countable and usually means a generous person or a warm mood.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'generous spirit' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'A generous spirit' as a countable phrase describes a person, so 'He is a generous spirit who always helps' fits. (A) and (D) wrongly attach 'of + -ing' to describe an attitude; (C) needs 'a' before the singular countable phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “generous spirit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.