What does perceptive mean?
Word: Perceptive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Perceptive means quick to notice and understand things that others may miss.
Synonyms: discerning, sharp
How do you spell perceptive?
Syllables: per - cep - tive
Tricky part: The s sound after the first syllable is written with a c, so perseptive is the slip to avoid.
Watch out for: perseptive, persceptive
Memory tip: Perceptive people catch clues, so borrow the c of catch for that s sound.
Perceptive in a sentence
Example 1: A perceptive reader notices small details hidden in the early chapters.
Example 2: Anjali's perceptive comment on the poem surprised even her English teacher.
Example 3: The young coach was perceptive enough to see that the goalkeeper was tired.
Fun Fact
The word goes back to Latin percipere, to take hold of completely, so a perceptive person seizes on what others let slip past.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
p_rc_ptive
a) e, e
b) e, i
c) a, e
d) u, e
Show answer
a) e, e. Both gaps take the same vowel, the e of her and then the e of pen.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Our form teacher is so perceptave that she knew from one look at my face that I had forgotten my library book at home on Monday morning.
a) library
b) perceptave
c) teacher
d) forgotten
Show answer
b) perceptave. The ending of this adjective is the same as in active and creative.
Spell-o-Spell
One of these words is spelt right. Pick the meaning of that word.
1. sympathatic 2. meticulus 3. persistant 4. perceptive
a) continuing to try in spite of difficulty
b) kind to someone who is having a hard time
c) able to pick up on what most people overlook
d) very careful about every small detail
Show answer
c) able to pick up on what most people overlook. Perceptive is the only word printed right; persistent wants an e, meticulous an o and sympathetic an e.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word perceptive as used in the sentence:
The perceptive guide noticed at once that the youngest trekker was falling behind.
a) observant
b) outspoken
c) optimistic
d) obedient
Show answer
a) observant. Someone observant sees what is going on around them, as this guide did.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark would most likely come from a perceptive friend?
a) Please tell me again what time the bus leaves.
b) I have not noticed anything different about you.
c) You seem quiet today; is something on your mind?
d) I think we should all meet at six o'clock.
Show answer
c) You seem quiet today; is something on your mind?
2. Why might a film-maker value a perceptive reviewer?
a) Her reviews praise every new film equally
b) Her reviews are always printed on a Friday
c) Her reviews are shorter than all the others
d) Her reviews reveal weaknesses hidden in the script
Show answer
d) Her reviews reveal weaknesses hidden in the script
