Impressive vs This guy here is really something
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Impressive
This guy here is really something
| Impressive | This guy here is really something | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpresɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpresɪv/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɡaɪ hɪə ɪz ˈrɪli ˈsʌmθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɡaɪ hɪr ɪz ˈrɪli ˈsʌmθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Something that makes you feel admiration or respect. | This person is very special or impressive. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were truly impressive and left everyone in awe. | This guy here is really something; he just won a national award! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very | this guy here, really something special, impressive guy here |
| Antonyms | unimpressive, ordinary, unremarkable | ordinary, unremarkable |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'impressing' which is a verb form., Using it in a negative context mistakenly., Incorrectly placing it before the noun without an article. | Confusing with 'this guy over there' which changes the meaning., Misusing in overly formal conversations where a more professional expression is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'impressive' to describe something that stands out or makes a strong positive impact. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound less natural in casual settings where simpler words might work better. | Use this phrase to express admiration or surprise about someone. It's appropriate in casual conversations but not in formal settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Impressive vs This guy here is really something
What's the difference between Impressive and This guy here is really something?
Impressive: Something that makes you feel admiration or respect. This guy here is really something: This person is very special or impressive.
Which is more formal: Impressive and This guy here is really something?
Impressive is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Impressive and This guy here is really something?
Impressive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Impressive: The magician's tricks were truly impressive and left everyone in awe. This guy here is really something: This guy here is really something; he just won a national award!
Can I use Impressive and This guy here is really something interchangeably?
Not always. Impressive and This guy here is really something are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.