Words / B2

TENS/tens/

Tense means nervous and unable to relax; as a noun, a verb form for time: a tense wait; the past tense. Tension is strain between people (already in the dictionary); tight is physical. A tense wait for results is not a grammar term. Mix-up: tense vs tent (camping, already elsewhere); tension. Do not call a relaxed chat tense without a sign in the source.

Meaning

Nervous and unable to relax; as a noun, a verb form that shows time (past tense).

Examples

• “A tense wait for the recount featured in the news source, not a grammar drill.”
• “Mark past-tense verbs in the extract, which is the language-paper sense.”

Good to know

a tense atmosphere / wait; feel tense; the past / present tense. Noun of strain: tension. Trap: tent. News, literature, and grammar. Nervous, or a verb form — specify.

Near in meaning

nervous

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