Sleepy: wanting to sleep

The idea

Use feel sleepy, look sleepy or be sleepy for the state. A sleepy person may still be awake: sleepy but awake.

Examples

• I feel sleepy tonight.
• The child is sleepy but still awake.
• She became sleepy during the long journey.
• He looks sleepy this morning.
• Are you sleepy or just tired?
• We were sleepy after the late flight.

Watch out

Sleepy does not mean already asleep. Tired can mean low energy without necessarily wanting to sleep.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the word for wanting sleep. Someone feels tired and wants to sleep: they are ___. (sleepy / asleep)

   Show answer or example answer

   sleepy

   Sleepy describes wanting to sleep.

2. Decide whether a sleepy person can be awake. The child is sleepy. Can the child still be awake? (yes / no)

   Show answer or example answer

   yes

   A sleepy person can still be awake.

3. Decide whether tired always means wanting sleep. Someone is tired. Does tired alone guarantee that they want to sleep? (no / yes)

   Show answer or example answer

   no

   Tired alone does not necessarily mean wanting sleep.

Use it today

Describe when someone feels sleepy and say whether they are awake.