disempowering

"Her confidence in her ability to speak French helped her to participate more in class discussions. "

"He is afraid of death."

"My friend told me there was something in the box, but I didn't know what it was yet. "

"I got a letter from my brother."

"The constant noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate on my homework. "

"Do you need a gift for that special someone?"

"The teacher gave each student a share of the cookies. "

"Often used to imply membership of a large class."

"The intricate making of the model airplane showcased the student's skill. "

"The removal of the old furniture was a big project for the family. "

"The teacher said that the ideas of perfect friendship and absolute fairness are often better in theory than in reality. "

"The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue."