Understanding ‘Reasonable’: A Key Word for IELTS Success
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of the word ‘reasonable’ for IELTS learners aiming for a band score of 6.5 and above. This video covers the word’s definition, history, antonyms, synonyms, and provides practical examples to help you use it correctly in various contexts.
Imagine you’re planning a group trip with friends. One suggests a luxury resort, while another insists on camping in the wilderness.
You step in and propose a comfortable but affordable hotel. Congratulations! You’ve just been reasonable.
Today, we’re exploring the word reasonable, an essential term for IELTS learners aiming for a band score of 6.5 and above.
Word type: Reasonable is an adjective. It’s used to describe people, decisions, or situations.
Meaning:
Reasonable means based on good judgment, sensible, or not extreme. It implies being fair, logical, and moderate in one’s actions or opinions.
Word history: The word reasonable comes from the Latin word rationabilis, meaning rational or sensible.
It entered the English language in the 14th century through Old French.
Antonyms: Some opposites of reasonable include unreasonable, irrational, excessive, and absurd.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to reasonable are sensible, rational, logical, fair, and moderate.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at how to use reasonable in different contexts: The company made a reasonable offer, and we decided to accept it.
Her explanation for being late sounded reasonable, so the teacher excused her. The price of the apartment was reasonable considering its location and size.
It’s reasonable to expect good service when you’re paying for a premium product. Common errors in use:
Be careful not to confuse reasonable with rational. While they’re similar, rational focuses more on logic, while reasonable includes the idea of fairness and moderation.
Also, avoid using reasonable when you mean cheap or inexpensive. A reasonable price means fair or acceptable, not necessarily low.
To wrap up, being reasonable is about using good judgment and being fair. It’s a valuable quality in personal relationships, professional settings, and even in IELTS speaking and writing tasks.
Practice using this word in your everyday conversations and written work. Remember, a reasonable approach to learning English will help you steadily improve your skills and achieve your target IELTS score.
