Cool MateIntelligent vs She was clever
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Intelligent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
She was clever
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Intelligent
| Intelligent | She was clever | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtelɪdʒənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtelɪdʒənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈklɛvə//🇺🇸 //ˈklɛvər// |
| Meaning | Smart or able to think well. | She was smart and quick-thinking. |
| Example | The intelligent student quickly solved the math problem. | She was clever enough to solve the puzzle before anyone else. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very | clever idea, clever solution, clever trick, clever joke, clever comment |
| Antonyms | unintelligent, stupid, dull | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'intellect' which refers more to reasoning ability., Mistakenly using as a noun instead of an adjective (e.g., 'an intelligent' instead of 'an intelligent person'). | 'Clever' is often confused with 'smart' or 'intelligent', but can imply creativity., In some contexts, learners might think 'clever' implies deceit which is not always the case., Using 'clever' only for academic skills; it can be used for practical skills too. |
| Usage notes | Use 'intelligent' to describe someone who has a high ability to learn or understand. It’s generally positive and can apply in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it sarcastically. | Use 'clever' to describe someone intelligent or good at solving problems. It has a positive connotation in most contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Intelligent vs She was clever
What's the difference between Intelligent and She was clever?
Intelligent: Smart or able to think well. She was clever: She was smart and quick-thinking.
Which is more common: Intelligent and She was clever?
Intelligent is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Intelligent: The intelligent student quickly solved the math problem. She was clever: She was clever enough to solve the puzzle before anyone else.
Can I use Intelligent and She was clever interchangeably?
Not always. Intelligent and She was clever 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.