Cool MateSensible vs You've got to be reasonable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Sensible
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
You've got to be reasonable
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Sensible
| Sensible | You've got to be reasonable | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsensəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsensəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juːv ˈɡɒt tə bi ˈriːzənəbl//🇺🇸 //juːv ˈɡɑt tə bi ˈrizənəbl// |
| Meaning | Logical and wise. Making good choices. | You need to be sensible and fair. |
| Example | It was sensible of her to save money for emergencies. | In negotiations, you've got to be reasonable to reach an agreement. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very | be reasonable, expect reasonable behavior, have reasonable expectations |
| Antonyms | foolish, irrational, illogical | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'sensitive' (related to feelings), Using overly complex synonyms instead of 'sensible', Misplacing it in sentences where a different adjective fits better | Confusing 'reasonable' with 'rational' - they are not exact synonyms., Using it in overly formal contexts where simpler language would suffice. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe decisions or actions that are reasonable. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may sound overly formal in relaxed conversations. | Use in discussions to emphasize fairness. Avoid in formal writing; better suited for conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Sensible vs You've got to be reasonable
What's the difference between Sensible and You've got to be reasonable?
Sensible: Logical and wise. Making good choices. You've got to be reasonable: You need to be sensible and fair.
Which is more common: Sensible and You've got to be reasonable?
Sensible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Sensible: It was sensible of her to save money for emergencies. You've got to be reasonable: In negotiations, you've got to be reasonable to reach an agreement.
Can I use Sensible and You've got to be reasonable interchangeably?
Not always. Sensible and You've got to be reasonable 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.