English Vocabulary: Relax, Relaxing, and Relaxed
There are many different ways to talk about relaxing in English. However, I’ve noticed that many English learners have difficulty using the verb relax and the adjective relaxed correctly.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how NOT to relax! You’ll also learn the 4 forms of relax and how to use them in a sentence.
1. Relax!
INCORRECT:
After a hard day at work, I just want to relax myself
You cannot relax yourself. When you use the verb relax, the listener or reader already knows that you are doing it to yourself. You don’t need to say He relaxes himself or I relax myself. That’s what relax means!
CORRECT:
After a hard day at work, I just want to come home and relax.
It’s difficult for me to relax when I’m working on a stressful project at work.
When I want to relax, I put on some comfortable clothes and I read a good book.
I relaxed when I realized the plane wasn’t going to crash.
Relax! There’s no reason to get so worked up over such a small problem.
I like to relax by watching TV, listening to music, or going to the gym.
2. Relaxing on the beach!
This is the gerund form of relax. A gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. Relaxing is the noun form of relax!
I spent my vacation relaxing on the beach in Mexico!
Ways of relaxing include taking a bath, going for a walk or listening to music.
Here’s a picture of my mom and me relaxing by the pool.
Some people like to spend their vacation relaxing at home.
3. I feel so relaxed!
INCORRECT:
I get relaxed when I exercise.
Relaxed is an adjective, but it is not something you can get. You can feel it, be it, but you can’t get it.
CORRECT:
After a day at the spa, I always feel so relaxed!
I just took a bath. I feel so relaxed now!
When I saw her after the exam and she seemed very relaxed.
I love going to that gym. It has such a relaxed atmosphere.
He always looks relaxed when he’s giving a speech.
Even though the project was over budget and out of time, the project manager always seemed relaxed.
4. Relaxing Music
Relaxing is also adjective. You can use relaxing to describe a noun.
A swim in the ocean, a massage, and an afternoon nap. What a relaxing way to spend the day!
Gardening is so relaxing.
When I have trouble sleeping, I put on some relaxing music.
After a hard day at work, I like to take a hot bath. It’s so relaxing.
She has a very relaxing way of speaking.
Comments
Oh, My GOD! Thank you very much. This lesson make me realize that I always make the mistakes of “relax myself” and “get relaxed”!
Hi,teacher Melanie
you’re right!!! It is very common among my students,too!!! I always provide them with plenty of examples but they come up with “I’m relax” again and again!!! 😀 😀 😀
teachers are incredibly patient!!! Aren’t we??? ;))
By the way, thank you for all this useful stuff here!!! God bless you :))
thanks for the article.
only when i read it, i became aware of the different forms of “relax”.
i enjoy your articles.
Thank you. I often hear ESL students say “relax myself.” I was looking for a worksheet to go over the different forms of the word relax. Much obliged!