Cool MateTalented vs You were good at something
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Talented
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
You were good at something
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Talented
| Talented | You were good at something | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtæləntɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtæləntɪd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː wəː gʊd æt ˈsʌmθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ju wɚ gʊd æt ˈsʌmθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Having a natural ability to do something well. | You did well at something. |
| Example | a talented player/musician/artist | You were good at mathematics in school. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, extremely, fairly, very | good at math, good at sports, good at art, good at communicating, good at problem-solving |
| Antonyms | untalented, incompetent, inept | - |
| Common mistakes | Saying 'talent' instead of 'talented' when describing a person., Using 'talented' without mentioning the specific skill or ability., Confusing 'talented' with 'talentless'. | Incorrectly use 'good in' instead of 'good at'., Omitting 'at' from the phrase., Using 'good' with a noun instead of a gerund (verb+ing). |
| Usage notes | Use 'talented' to describe someone who is skilled at something. It is appropriate in both casual and professional contexts. Avoid using it to describe someone's personal qualities unrelated to skills. | Use 'good at' when discussing skills or abilities. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in overly negative or critical comments. |
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Frequently asked questions: Talented vs You were good at something
What's the difference between Talented and You were good at something?
Talented: Having a natural ability to do something well. You were good at something: You did well at something.
Which is more common: Talented and You were good at something?
Talented is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Talented: a talented player/musician/artist You were good at something: You were good at mathematics in school.
Can I use Talented and You were good at something interchangeably?
Not always. Talented and You were good at 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.