Pride vs Proud
Between the two terms pride and proud, one can discern a difference though, the difference stems not from the meaning of the word, but from its usage in the sentence. Pride refers to the satisfaction that an individual gains from something. Proud, on the other hand, refers to the feeling of pride. So what is the difference? The difference between the two can be emphasized in this manner. Pride can be used as a noun or a verb, but proud is an adjective. This is the difference between the two words. It highlights that when using the words, one has to pay attention to the structure of the sentence. This article attempts to highlight how these two words differ in their usage.
What does Pride mean?
Pride can be understood as pleasure and satisfaction that one gains from achievements, qualities or possessions. We all pride ourselves on various accomplishments and possessions. Let us try to understand how this term can be used in sentences.
I pride myself on being one of the first to graduate from that university.
He had too much pride that he just could not apologize for the mistake.
Pay attention to the first sentence. There the word pride has been used as a verb. The expression is usually ‘to pride oneself on’. It means that the speaker gains satisfaction from being one of the oldest graduates of a certain university. Now let us move on to the second sentence. There the word pride has been used as a noun that refers to a certain quality that a person has. However, in this case, the term is not used in a positive sense. It is viewed as a negative attribute that a person has. This word can be used as the object of the sentence, just as in this example or even as the subject of the sentence.
‘I pride myself on being one of the first to graduate from that university’
What does Proud mean?
Proud can be viewed as the feeling of pride. When we say ‘she is usually very proud,’ we are focusing on a particular characteristic of the individual. Feeling proud at various situations is a part of human life. When we win an award or become the best speaker, it is natural that we should feel proud. This is because it is a situation or a special moment of our lives which adds a significant value to us. Now let us look at the examples given below.
I felt so proud of you for the way you spoke today.
I am proud to have someone like you in my life.
Notice how in both sentences the word has been used as an adjective that describes the feelings of the speaker. The function of the words are quite similar. However, the application is not.
‘I felt so proud of you for the way you spoke today’
What is the difference between Pride and Proud?
• Pride refers to the satisfaction that an individual gains from something.
• Proud, on the other hand, refers to the feeling of pride.
• The difference between the two words is that while pride can be used as a noun or a verb, proud can only be used as an adjective.
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