在英语中某些词有两种或两种以上的形容词形式，它们词形相近，但词义不同，容易用错，下面笔者对这类形容词做一总结。
1)historic: famous in history, 历史上著名的 associated with past times 与过去时代有关的
a ~ event/speech/spot
historical: belong to history 历史上的
a ~ people/novel/play/film/painting
~ trend

2) electric: worked by, changed with， producing electricity 用电的，带电的, 有电的
~ current/cable
electrical: relating to electricity, an idea of a less close connection with electricity
~ engineering/apparatus

3) economic: of economics
~ policy/geography/crisis/crops
economical: careful in the spending of money and time, not waste 经济的，节俭的
an ~ housewife/store

4) industrial: of industries 工业的
the ~ revolution/products/system
industrious: hard-working, diligent
~ people

5) considerable: great much 相当多（大）的
a ~ income/distance
considerate: thoughtful 体谅的， 体贴的 周到的
She is ~ to others.

6) sensible: reasonable, having good sense 实用的， 明知的
a ~ woman/idea/ 豁达的妇女/明知的观点
~ clothes 实用的衣服
sensitive: quick to receive impression 敏感的
a ~ skin
~ paper 感光纸

7) continual: going on all the time without stopping or with only short breaks, stop and go repeatedly, 连续的，断断续续的
~ rain/noise
continuous: going on without a break, an uninterrupted flow 连续不断的
~ fight/work

8) intense: high in degree 强烈的， 剧烈的，高度的
~ heat炽热/pain
an ~ lady 热情的女子
intensive: deep and thorough 精深的， 集中的
~ reading/study彻底研究/agriculture密集农业

9） respectable: deserving respect, 值得尊敬的，有名望的
a ~ man/profession
respectful: showing respect 尊敬人的，有礼貌的，
He is always ~to the elders.
respective: belongs to each of these 分别的，各自的
They sat on their ~ chairs.