feeling of sadness

[azz]

Can one say:
a. a sad feeling

instead of:

b. a feeling of sadness

My feeling is that in the second sentence the feeling itself is sadness but in the first the the sadness accompanies the feeling, which is something else (nostalgia is a sad feeling, but is not the same thing as sadness).

I had a feeling of sadness=I was feeling sad.
I had a sad feeling=I had a feeling that had sadness in it...

Do you think that is correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

Can one say:
a. a sad feeling

instead of:

b. a feeling of sadness

My feeling is that in the second sentence the feeling itself is sadness but in the first the the sadness accompanies the feeling, which is something else (nostalgia is a sad feeling, but is not the same thing as sadness).

I had a feeling of sadness=I was feeling sad.
I had a sad feeling=I had a feeling that had sadness in it...

Do you think that is correct?

To me, a sad feeling and a feeling of sadness are pretty much the same thing.

I wouldn't agree with you that nostalgia is necessarily a sad feeling at all, someone can be nostalgic and if the memories are happy, then it can be a happy feeling!

As far as how to express a specific feeling, I would use the actual feeling:

I felt sad.
I felt nostalgic.
I felt disappointed.
I felt bitter.
I felt unhappy.

 

[azz]

Thanks.
Just to make sure:

So

a. I have a sad feeling.
b. I have a feeling of sadness.
and
c. I feel sad.

all mean exactly the same?

 

[Barb_D]

Personally, I think "a feeling of sadness" is less intense than "I feel sad." If you say "I feel sad" than "sad" dominates your feelings.

You can have a feeling of sadness amidst other more dominant emotions.

For example, at your child's gradutation, you might have feelings of sadness and nostalgia, but you're overriding emotion is to feel proud.