In slang, shook means shocked, rattled, thrown off balance: I'm still shook after that call. No actual trembling needed: a fright or a big surprise is enough. It's an informal adjective after be; in an essay or email, say shaken or shocked.
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be / feel shook; shook up; standard participle: shaken
- I was still shook after hearing someone try the locked door.
- She looked really shook after the near miss.
- The sudden alarm left us all a little shook up.
What changed
First versionThe frightening call has shook me.
RevisionThe frightening call has shaken me.
The verb shake goes shake — shook — shaken, so the present perfect needs has shaken. Slang I'm shook is different: there shook works as an adjective after be. Has shook mixes these two uses.
Shaken means the same, but it's neutral and works in serious writing. Surprised is just surprised, possibly in a good way. Shook is slang, usually about an unpleasant or scary surprise.
Your turn
Choose the standard participle after has: The frightening news has ___ her.
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shaken — After has you need the past participle, shaken. Shook is the simple past or the slang adjective after be.
Message a friend about a sudden unpleasant moment. Use was shook and explain what happened.
I was shook when the lights went out and the lift stopped between floors.
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