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Topic: Sensible or sensitive? |
7 Mar 2002 |
Have you ever heard of a novel, "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen?
It was adapted into a very good film a few years ago. I am always interested in usage
of two words that seem and sound somewhat alike but have totally different meanings.
Some English Nanny fans had asked me, when I included the dialog from this movie
in the section 'Entertaining English', of the difference between these two words. So, here we are.
| sensible |
adj. having or showing good sense, reasonable
It's sensible to save part of your salary every month.
It's cold. I think it would be
sensible to bring a sweater with you.
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| Sensitive |
adj. easily hurt or damaged
Don't laugh at him. He's very sensitive about his appearance.
My skin is very sensitive to the sun.
adj. able to measure very small changes
Film is sensitive to light. |
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Exercise: Sensible or sensitive |
| Directions: Choose the correct answers. |
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 1. We should be _______ and rational in dealing with this problem. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 2. His eyes are _______, so he has to wear sunglasses all the time. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 3. You should keep your _______ skin moisturised. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 4. When she is angry, she is never _______. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 5. She is very _______; that's why she likes movies that make her cry. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 6. It is _______ to take insurance on your car. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 7. Most women are _______ about their weight and look. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
| 8. She easily gets freckles. Her skin is _______ to sunlight and chemicals in cosmetics. |
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sensitive |
sensible |
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Answers |
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