This is a passage from my English exercise book:
After spending a day at the beach, I stopped to buy a snack on my way home. But when I searched for my wallet, it wasn’t there. I checked my other pockets, and the car and then headed back to look at the beach. My driver’s license, my ID card – my mind was racing through all the things I had lost and I felt rotten. A search of the beach and parking lot proved fruitless, so I headed home. I tried to forget it because there was nothing I could do, but I was mad at myself for losing it. After dinner when I was watching TV and trying to forget, the phone rang and a voice asked: “Did you lose a wallet? I found it on the beach.” What a great feeling that gave me – not only for my luck, but also for my faith in all humanity!
I guess the meaning of the phrase "what a great feeling that gave me" is "what a great feeling that / which I had". I don't really understand the meaning of the word 'gave' in the sentence. A great feeling gave me what (What did a great feeling give me)? It seems like the word 'gave' might have a special meaning when it goes with 'feeling'. Could you please explain this special meaning in this context?
Best Answer
In this situation, I believe "that" is part of the reason the phrase isn't making sense to you.
"What a great feeling that gave me..." could be rewritten as "What a good feeling the stranger's kindness gave me..." "That" is a demonstrative pronoun for "the stranger's kindness" (or "the caller's good deed" or any similar phrasing).
"Gave" makes sense because it helps to specify what caused the good feeling. Think of it in this case as a synonym for "caused" or "contributed," not "gifted." It works with things that aren't "feelings."