英语同源形容词的区别

英语同源形容词的区别

赵宝斌

在英语中某些词有两种或两种以上的形容词形式，它们词形相近，但词义不同，容易用错，下面笔者对这类形容词做一总结。

1)historic: famous in history, 历史上著名的 associated with past times 与过去时代有关的

a ~ event/speech/spot

historical: belong to history 历史上的

a ~ people/novel/play/film/painting

~ trend

2) electric: worked by, changed with， producing electricity 用电的，带电的, 有电的

~ current/cable

electrical: relating to electricity, an idea of a less close connection with electricity

~ engineering/apparatus

3) economic: of economics

~ policy/geography/crisis/crops

economical: careful in the spending of money and time, not waste 经济的，节俭的

an ~ housewife/store

4) industrial: of industries 工业的

the ~ revolution/products/system

industrious: hard-working, diligent

~ people

5) considerable: great much 相当多（大）的

a ~ income/distance

considerate: thoughtful 体谅的，体贴的周到的

She is ~ to others.

6) sensible: reasonable, having good sense 实用的，明知的

a ~ woman/idea/ 豁达的妇女/明知的观点

~ clothes 实用的衣服

sensitive: quick to receive impression 敏感的

a ~ skin

~ paper 感光纸

7) continual: going on all the time without stopping or with only short breaks, stop and go repeatedly, 连续的，断断续续的

~ rain/noise

continuous: going on without a break, an uninterrupted flow 连续不断的

~ fight/work

8) intense: high in degree 强烈的，剧烈的，高度的

~ heat炽热/pain

an ~ lady 热情的女子

intensive: deep and thorough 精深的，集中的

~ reading/study彻底研究/agriculture密集农业

9） respectable: deserving respect, 值得尊敬的，有名望的

a ~ man/profession

respectful: showing respect 尊敬人的，有礼貌的，

He is always ~to the elders.

respective: belongs to each of these 分别的，各自的

They sat on their ~ chairs.

10) imaginable: that can be imagined 可象想的

~ difficulties

imaginary: existing only in the mind, unreal 想象中的，不真实的

~ figure

imaginative: of, having, using imagination 有想象力的，运用想象力的

a ~ writer

11) intelligent: having, showing intelligence, clever 有才智的, 聪明的

an ~ looking girl ~ answer

intelligible: clear to mind, that can be easily understood. 易了解的, 易领悟的 an ~ speech/explanation

intellectual: possessing a great deal of knowledge 知识的, 智力的

12) contemptible: deserving contempt 可卑的

a ~ lie

contemptuous: showing contempt 表示轻视的

a ~ look

13) credible: that can be believed 可信的，可靠的

a ~ witness

credulous: too ready to believe things. 轻易相信的，易上当的 He always cheats ~ people.

creditable: that brings credit. 可称赞的

a ~ record/deed/effort

14) alternate: changing by turns 轮流的，交替的

alternative: giving a choice between two things 选择的，两者选一的15) comparable 可比较的，有类似之处的

comparative 比较而言的，相当的

There is no scenery comparable to that of the West lake.

He lived in comparative comfort recently.

16) politic 精明的

political 政治的

17) beneficial 有益的

beneficent 多多行善的

18) official 官方的

officious 多管闲事的

19) potent 强有力的

potential 潜在的，可能的

20) confident 有信心的，自信的

confidential 机密的