Hey there! This is TOP episode 132.  Intense or Intensive?

My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. My goal is to help you start speaking English with confidence and get rid of speaking barriers. I believe it is achievable for you and it’s time you started speaking English fearlessly! Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning! 

Hello there! Thank you for stopping by, for pressing play. You’re in the right place. You’ll practice speaking and learn the difference between ‘intense’ and ‘intensive’.

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After listening to the whole episode, don’t forget to download the worksheet. It’s waiting for you at teacherola.com/132. 

If you have little time and prefer to go all-in buy the Worksheet Set. It includes The Speaking English Planner, a great tool for monitoring your progress in speaking English. 

Firstly I’m gonna tell you about the word ‘intense’, you’ll hear some collocations and example sentences and then we’ll do the same thing with the word ‘intensive’. At the end of this show, you’ll repeat the sentences put loud. Let’s jump in!

The difference between “intensive” and “intense” is subtle yet important. We should be certain we can tell this difference. 

Let’s take a closer look at the word ‘intense’.  ‘Intense’ according to Oxford English Dictionary means ‘very great. Very strong. Extreme.’ 

Now let’s hear some examples of most common collocations:

intense heat

intense interest

intense pressure

intense scrutiny

intense anger

intense pleasure

intense cold

intense pain

intense anxiety

intense excitement

intense love

Intense competition

Now you’ll hear some sentences. Later you’ll have time to listen to them again and repeat out loud. For now, just sit back, relax, and listen. 

I felt intense pain in my legs. 

We were hiking in intense heat.

I hate being put under such intense pressure.

Relationships often come under intense scrutiny.

The intense blue flowers, with a touch of pink, are delightfully aromatic.

With the high concentration of businesses has come intense competition.

They have the capacity to ignite intense interest and passion.

Ok, what about intensive. Let’s see the definition. Intensive, again I took it from Oxford English Dictionary means involving a lot of work or activity done in a short time. Now please hear some common collocations with the word ‘intensive’.

intensive language course

intensive farming

intensive agriculture

intensive training

intensive negotiations

intensive care

intensive work

intensive use

intensive research

intensive industries

intensive development

Now see some sentences now:

After 12 years of intensive work he becomes a market leader developer.

Intensive agriculture produces huge quantities of farm chemicals.

They teach you English in an intensive course lasting just a week.

The village has maintained substantial integrity despite increasingly intensive development.

They were being transported to intensive care.

Our research group has made an intensive study of the species.

He acquired greater proficiency after a three-month intensive course. 

Now. Let me tell you one more thing. Unfortunately sometimes it’s more confusing. It’s because ‘intense’ has another meaning, that is ‘needing great effort and energy’. ‘Serious and often involving a lot of action in a short period of time’. What? So that sounds a lot like the definition of the word ‘intensive’. Why? Well, there is a difference. 

Intense comes from within. Intensive comes from the outside world. Stay with me, I’ll explain it. Intense is associated with feelings. For instance:

The Spanish course was really intense. I found it really hard. 

It’s subjective. For me it was intense but for my friend it was nothing. A cakewalk.

‘Intensive’ refers to things which are more objective. 

That workout was intensive. 

It involved a lot of work, it was designed to be intensive. It’s not just me. It’s not my opinion. It was objectively intensive. 

It’s time you spoke some English. Listen and repeat the sentences out loud. Trust me, it works. Give it a go. Even if you feel foolish doing it, doesn’t matter, repeat out loud. Let us begin.

I felt intense pain in my legs. 

He acquired greater proficiency after a three-month intensive course. 

We were hiking in intense heat.

They were being transported to intensive care.

I hate being put under such intense pressure.

They teach you English in an intensive course lasting just a week.

With the high concentration of businesses has come intense competition.

Intensive agriculture produces huge quantities of farm chemicals.

They have the capacity to ignite intense interest and passion.

After 12 years of intensive work, he becomes a market leader developer.

So good! Glad you’ve made it! Don’t forget to go to your inbox and grab worksheet 132 in order to test yourself. Complete the worksheet with translations.

If you’re not a member of TOPeople download the worksheet at teacherola.com/132 and become one. It’s free. 

I also have The Worksheet Set. This way you won’t have to download each worksheet separately. So it’s gonna be much more convenient to work with this podcast. All the links are in the description below. 

If you enjoyed it, please share this episode with one person or share it somewhere on your social media. It’ll help me grow and spread the message. No matter how big your language blockade is, you can and will overcome it and speak fluently.

Thank you so much for listening and I’ll see you next Wednesday! We’re going to talk about learning English with TV series. Till then, take care! Happy learning. Stay fearless and say it out loud! Bye!