What is forgetful? Pronunciation and usage in English

forgetful means . Learn how to pronounce and use forgetful through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of forgetful

forgetfuladjective

/fəˈɡetfl//fərˈɡetfl/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "forgetful." It can be tricky because of the "forget" part. Here's a breakdown:

1. "For-" - This is pretty straightforward. Pronounce it like "for" as in "for you." It's a short, quick sound.

2. "get" - This is where it gets a little tricky. It's pronounced like "get" as in "I get it." It's a sharp, distinct 'get' sound.

3. "ful" - This is pronounced like "full" as in "a full cup."

Putting it all together:

For-get-ful

Here's a helpful breakdown of the sounds:

  • ˈfɒr.ɡɛt.fʊl

    • ˈfɒr: (Stress is on this syllable – it’s the most important) – "for" sound
    • .ɡɛt: - "get" sound
    • .fʊl: - "full" sound

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Usage and examples with the word forgetful in English

Let's break down how to use the word "forgetful" in English. It's a versatile word with a particular nuance.

1. Basic Meaning:

"Forgetful" describes someone who easily forgets things – names, dates, appointments, where they put things, and so on. It implies a tendency to lose things or misremember them.

2. Usage – As an Adjective (Describing a Person):

This is the most common usage. You use it to describe people.

  • Example 1 (Simple): "My grandfather is very forgetful. He often asks me the same questions over and over."
  • Example 2 (More Detailed): "She’s a forgetful person, so I always write down important details when we meet."
  • Example 3 (Describing a Habit): "He's become increasingly forgetful since he started taking that medication."

3. Usage – As an Adjective (Describing Things):

Less common, but "forgetful" can sometimes be used to describe objects or situations that lead to forgetting.

  • Example 1: “The noisy restaurant was utterly forgetful; I don't remember a thing about it.” (Meaning: The environment distracted me so much that I couldn’t remember anything.)
  • Example 2: "Forgetful architecture can make buildings difficult to navigate." (Meaning: The design is confusing, leading to disorientation and forgetting.)

4. Key Nuances & Related Words:

  • Gentle Forgetfulness vs. Significant Forgetfulness: “Forgetful” usually implies a mild to moderate level of forgetfulness. If someone is severely forgetful to the point of having memory problems (like dementia), you'd more likely use terms like "suffering from memory loss" or “experiencing cognitive decline.”
  • Synonyms: There are several words that can convey a similar meaning, depending on the context:
    • Absent-minded: (Suggests someone is preoccupied and easily distracted) - "He's an absent-minded professor."
    • Scatterbrained: (Suggests a disorganized and chaotic mind) – "She was scatterbrained and kept losing her keys."
    • Oblivious: (Suggests unawareness, not necessarily about forgetting) – "He was oblivious to the fact that he had spilled coffee on his shirt.”
    • Memory lapses: (Refers to specific instances of forgetting) - “She experienced a few memory lapses after the surgery.”

5. Phrases Using "Forgetful":

  • Forgetful of: "He was forgetful of my birthday."
  • Being forgetful: “Being forgetful is a common side effect of stress.”

Here's a quick summary table:

Usage Example Meaning
Adjective (Person) "She's forgetful." Easily forgets things.
Adjective (Thing/Situation) "The room was forgetful." Causes forgetting; distracting.
Phrase "Forgetful of..." Lacking remembrance of something.

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Synonyms for the word forgetful

Practice with vocabulary forgetful

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Despite reminders, he remains quite _____________ when it comes to returning borrowed items.
  2. During the crucial negotiation, her mind seemed _____________ by personal worries, leading to several oversights.
  3. The manager's _____________ nature often resulted in missed appointments and overlooked emails, causing minor project delays.
  4. For a project of this complexity, you must be extremely _____________ in checking every detail; any minor error could have significant repercussions.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following describes someone who frequently misplaces their belongings? a) Astute b) Forgetful c) Meticulous d) Absent-minded

  2. If a speaker's instructions are difficult to follow due to a lack of clarity, they could be described as: a) Precise b) Explicit c) Vague d) Ambiguous

  3. A professional who consistently fails to remember important client details is demonstrating a tendency to be: a) Diligent b) Oblivious c) Forgetful d) Conscientious

  4. Which verbs can be used to describe the act of bringing a past event or fact back into one's mind? a) Disregard b) Recollect c) Reminisce d) Recall

  5. If a team member often neglects to submit reports on time because they lose track of deadlines, they are likely: a) Organized b) Unreliable c) Forgetful d) Punctual

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Despite frequent reminders, he always leaves his access card at home. Rewrite (using "forgetful"):

  2. Original: She often overlooks minor administrative tasks when focusing intensely on strategic projects. Rewrite (using a suitable replacement word, not "forgetful"):

  3. Original: If you don't note down the key takeaways, you'll probably not remember them for the next meeting. Rewrite (using "forgetful" or a related word form):

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. forgetful
  2. distracted
  3. forgetful
  4. meticulous

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) Forgetful, d) Absent-minded
  2. c) Vague, d) Ambiguous
  3. c) Forgetful
  4. b) Recollect, c) Reminisce, d) Recall
  5. b) Unreliable, c) Forgetful

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. He is quite forgetful, always leaving his access card at home despite frequent reminders.
  2. She is sometimes inattentive to minor administrative tasks when focusing intensely on strategic projects.
  3. Being forgetful, you might not remember the key takeaways for the next meeting if you don't note them down.

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