Acceptable vs Adequate vs Decent vs Good enough

Cuándo usar cada una en inglés, con significado, registro y ejemplos.

Acceptable

Top 2000 (común)B2adjective

Adequate

Top 2000 (común)B2adjective

Decent

Top 2000 (común)B2adjective

Good enough

Más de 10 000 (menos común)
 AcceptableAdequateDecentGood enough
Pronunciación🇬🇧 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈædɪkwət//🇺🇸 //ˈædɪkwɪt//🇬🇧 /["/ˈdiːsnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdiːsnt/"]/🇬🇧 //ɡʊd ɪˈnʌf//🇺🇸 //ɡʊd ɪˈnʌf//
SignificadoOkay or good enough to be used.Good enough for what is needed.Lo suficientemente bueno; aceptable.Good enough; acceptable.Satisfactory, but not perfect.
EjemploThe noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying.The food was adequate, but I expected something better.She has a decent understanding of the topic.The meal was good enough for me, though it could have used more flavor.
RegistroNeutralNeutralNeutralNeutral
Qué tan comúnTop 2000 (común)Top 2000 (común)Top 2000 (común)Más de 10 000 (menos común)
Nivel CEFRB2B2B2-
Categoría gramaticaladjectiveadjectiveadjective
Colocacionesbe, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…, be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…adequate resources, adequate solution, adequate responsebe, look, really, very, perfectly, to, be, very, really, perfectly, do the decent thing, be, look, really, very, perfectly, togood enough for government work, good enough to eat, good enough to go, good enough to pass, good enough to satisfy
Antónimosunacceptable, unsatisfactory, poorinadequate, insufficientpoor, subpar, inferior-
Errores comunesConfused with 'acceptable' vs 'accepted'., Using 'acceptable' as a noun incorrectly., Overusing 'acceptable' in contexts that require stronger words like 'excellent' or 'outstanding'.Confused with 'sufficient' - 'adequate' implies minimum quality, while 'sufficient' means enough in quantity., Using 'adequate' too casually, as it is more formal., Mispronouncing it, especially in unstressed syllables.Using 'decent' to mean 'excellent' instead of 'acceptable'., Confusing it with 'descent' or 'recent'.Used in overly formal contexts where higher standards are expected., Confused with 'good' as a standalone adjective., Misused as a synonym for 'excellent'.
Notas de usoUsed in both spoken and written contexts to indicate something that meets necessary standards. It can be formal in academic contexts and more casual in everyday conversations. Avoid in circumstances that require high standards or exceptional quality.Use 'adequate' when something meets the necessary requirements, but is not exceptional. It's often used in formal contexts, like reports or evaluations.Usa 'decente' para describir algo que cumple con los estándares básicos, pero que no es excepcional. Sirve para la mayoría de las situaciones, pero podría sonar demasiado informal en contextos muy serios.Use 'decent' when describing something that meets basic standards but isn't exceptional. It's suitable for most contexts but may sound too casual in very formal situations.Used to express that something meets the minimum requirements. Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but less suitable for situations requiring high standards.

Preguntas frecuentes: Acceptable vs Adequate vs Decent vs Good enough

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre Acceptable, Adequate, Decent y Good enough?

Acceptable: Okay or good enough to be used. Adequate: Good enough for what is needed. Decent: Good enough; acceptable. Good enough: Satisfactory, but not perfect.

¿Puedes mostrar un ejemplo de cada una?

Acceptable: The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying. Adequate: The food was adequate, but I expected something better. Decent: She has a decent understanding of the topic. Good enough: The meal was good enough for me, though it could have used more flavor.

¿Puedo usar Acceptable, Adequate, Decent y Good enough indistintamente?

No siempre. Acceptable, Adequate, Decent y Good enough están relacionadas y a veces se solapan, pero difieren en registro, frecuencia y uso, así que cambiar una por otra puede alterar el significado o el tono. Revisa las diferencias de arriba antes de sustituir.

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