Attentive
EVERYDAY EVENT: Being able to focus on the task at hand is
an important aspect of learning.
Examples:
•Please pay attention to the instructions I am giving you.
•Thank you for being such attentive listeners.
EXCEPTIONAL EXPRESSION:
There are two similar definitions for attentive. One definition of attentive is to focus on a
task or person. A student can be focused on a science experiment or we may give an
exciting chapter our full attention.
The second definition for attentive is to be mindful of another person’s needs. Someone
who is consoling another person may anticipate the need for tissues and make sure to have
them available.
There are also varying degrees of attentiveness. As we focus on a task, we can give it our
complete attention or we can be somewhat aware of what’s going on. We may give a
phone conversation our full attention by listening intently to the conversation. Or we be
doing other tasks such as reading an email while on the phone.
See how many of the words on the attached graphic you and your students can integrate
into your everyday classroom talk.
FOLLOW-UPS:
How is being absorbed in a book different than reading a book?
Would sending books or flowers to a sick friend be considered thoughtful?
What does it mean when someone asks you to be considerate of their feelings?
What does it mean to be all ears?
THE SPANISH CONNECTION:
The word attentive is from an Old French word atendre, which means “to direct one's mind
or energies.” But atendre is based on the Latin word attendere. The Spanish cognate of
attentive, atento(a), is also based on the Latin word attendere. A look at the Latin root
word, shows that the original meaning of the word attend was “to focus on a task.”
WORD CHANGES:
1) IDIOMS:
• all ears or all yours
• on the ball
• glued to the task
• hanging on to my every word
• hooked
2) COMMON PHRASES:
• listening carefully
• paying attention
• ready to act
• on the alert
Copyright © 2009 TextProject. Exceptional Expressions for Everyday Events is a trademark of TextProject.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United
States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ or send
a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
Attentive
More
complex
forms
solicitous
sympathetic
dutiful
Attentive as to be
focused
alert
focused
watchful
aware
observant
concentrate
absorbed
intent
rapt
More
complex
forms
conscientious
assiduous
immersed
vigilant
engrossed
enthralled
Attentive as to be
helpful to others
polite
caring
kind
courteous
helpful
thoughtful
considerate
devoted
heedful
Attentive
Idioms
* all ears or all yours
* on the ball
* glued to the task
* hanging on to my
every word
* hooked
Common phrases
* listening carefully
* paying attention
* ready to act
* on the alert
The Spanish Connection
alert/alerta
concentrate/concentrar
conscientious/concienzudo
observant/observador(ora)
considerate/considerado(a)
solicitious/solícito
sympatheic/simpático
Copyright © 2009 TextProject. Exceptional Expressions for Everyday Events is a trademark of TextProject.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United
States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ or send
a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
Attentive
more
complex
forms
solicitous
sympathetic
dutiful
Attentive as to be
focused
alert
focused
watchful
aware
observant
concentrate
absorbed
intent
rapt
more
complex
forms
conscientious
assiduous
immersed
vigilant
engrossed
enthralled
Attentive as to be
helpful to others
polite
caring
kind
courteous
helpful
thoughtful
considerate
devoted
heedful
Attentive
Idioms
* all ears or all yours
* on the ball
* glued to the task
* hanging on to my
every word
* hooked
Common phrases
* listening carefully
* paying attention
* ready to act
* on the alert
The Spanish Connection
alert/alerta
concentrate/concentrar
conscientious/concienzudo
observant/observador(ora)
considerate/considerado(a)
solicitious/solícito
sympatheic/simpático
Copyright © 2009 TextProject. Exceptional Expressions for Everyday Events is a trademark of TextProject.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United
States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ or send
a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.