Trust? Confident? Conscious? Conscientiousness? These words can be confusing for English students. Let’s figure it out together.
Read the definitions and examples, and try using the words in your own Present Perfect and Past Perfect sentences.
trust
To believe that something is true or safe, or that someone is honest, reliable, and well intentioned
Verb: I trust you to do the right thing.
Noun: Trust is essential in a good relationship.
trustworthy
Able to be trusted or worthy of trust / honest, dependable and reliable
Adjective: Our leaders must be trustworthy if we are to have a peaceful world.
confidence
To have trust in something or someone
Noun: Do you have confidence in your government’s ability to avoid corruption by defense contractors?
self-confidence
Belief in one’s own abilities and worth
Noun: People with self-confidence are more likely to stand up for what they believe in.
confident
To have self-confidence / to trust in someone or something
Adjective: The peace activist was confident and well spoken.
Adjective: We are confident that we will be able to reach an agreement.
conscious
To notice or be aware of something / to be awake and knowing what is happening
Adjective: We are conscious of the need for more equity in our community.
Adjective: The soldier was injured, but conscious.
self-conscious
Excessively aware of being observed (Spanish: acomplejado)
Adjective: Some people are too self-conscious to speak up about injustice.
conscientious
Guided by your conscience and a sense of what is right / meticulous and careful
Adjective: Conscientious citizens listen to each other, even when they disagree.
Adjective: What a conscientious student you are, to be learning these new words!
compromise
An resolution where both sides reduce their demands to reach an agreement / a reduction in moral standards
Verb: We are glad that we were able to reach a compromise.
Noun: The compromise was acceptable to both parties.
Verb: The politicians were not willing to compromise their ethics.
commitment
a promise or firm decision
Noun: We must make a commitment to world peace.
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