Glad is a predicative adjective meaning pleased and happy about a situation or event, or willing and eager to do something. It is always used after a linking verb and is typically followed by a to-infinitive or a that-clause.
What Does Glad Mean?
Glad comes from Old English glæd, meaning bright, shining, or joyful — related to Old Norse glaðr and ultimately to a Germanic root referring to light and radiance. The shift from physical brightness to emotional warmth happened very early in the language's history, making glad one of the oldest emotion words in English.
In modern British English, glad expresses a mild to moderate sense of pleasure or relief about a specific fact or event. It is more common in reaction to news or circumstances than as a description of a general emotional state. You would say I am glad you passed your exam (reacting to a specific event), but not usually She is a very glad person.
The word also carries a second, very common meaning: willingness. Phrases such as I would be glad to help or I am only too glad to answer your questions are polite and common in both spoken and written English. This usage is slightly more formal and is found frequently in professional correspondence.
Note the key grammatical constraint: unlike most adjectives, glad is almost always predicative — it appears after a verb such as be, seem, or feel. You cannot normally place it directly before a noun: say a happy occasion, not a glad occasion. The one major exception is the fixed phrase glad tidings (good news), which is literary or archaic.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| I am glad to hear that you passed the exam. | A2 — glad + to-infinitive, reacting to good news |
| She was glad when her brother came home safely. | B1 — glad + when-clause, expressing relief |
| We are glad that the weather stayed dry for the whole trip. | B1 — glad + that-clause, reacting to a situation |
| I would be glad to attend the meeting if you need another speaker. | B2 — glad expressing polite willingness, formal register |
| He was only too glad to step aside once a more qualified candidate had been found. | C1 — only too glad, idiomatic; implies slight relief mixed with willingness |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| be glad to hear | I am glad to hear everything went well. |
| be glad to help | Our customer service team is glad to help. |
| be glad that | She was glad that the results came back negative. |
| would be glad to | We would be glad to arrange a second interview. |
| only too glad | I am only too glad to explain the process again. |
| feel glad | He felt glad he had stayed to the end of the talk. |
| be glad about | They were glad about the extra funding. |
| glad tidings | The messenger brought glad tidings from the capital. (literary) |
| be glad to see | I am glad to see the project is finally complete. |
| be glad to know | You will be glad to know that your application was successful. |
Usage Notes
Key Grammar Points
- Always predicative: glad follows a verb — never put it directly before a noun in modern English. Say a happy day, not a glad day.
- Followed by to-infinitive: I am glad to meet you. This is the most common structure in everyday English.
- Followed by that-clause: I am glad that you feel better. The word that can be omitted in informal speech.
- Followed by about + noun: She was glad about the promotion. Less frequent but perfectly correct.
- Expressing willingness: would be glad to and only too glad to are set phrases used to offer help politely.
- Register: Glad is neutral to slightly informal. Use pleased or delighted for more formal writing.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
She is a very glad person who always smiles.
She is a very happy person who always smiles. (glad cannot be used attributively before a noun)
I am glad of hearing the news.
I am glad to hear the news. (use a to-infinitive, not a gerund)
I am glad about to help you.
I am glad to help you. (do not combine about with a to-infinitive)
They are glad for the results came quickly.
They are glad that the results came quickly. (use that, not for, to introduce a clause)