VALUABLE


Meaning of VALUABLE in English

adjective

1

BAD : The magazine is printed on very valuable paper.

GOOD : The magazine is printed on very expensive paper.

BAD : They always buy valuable brands such as Polo, Louis Vuitton, and Yves St Laurent.

GOOD : They always buy expensive brands such as Polo, Louis Vuitton, and Yves St Laurent.

◆◆◆

valuable = worth a lot of money: 'Your stamp collection must be quite valuable by now.' 'If the painting is genuine, it could be extremely valuable.'

expensive = costing a lot of money, especially when compared with other things of the same type: 'He only buys silk ties, even though they're more expensive.' 'Why are these bananas so expensive?'

2

BAD : They will steal all your money and valuable things.

GOOD : They will steal all your money and valuables.

◆◆◆

When you mean valuable things such as jewellery, cameras, etc, use valuables (always plural): 'The management advises guests to deposit their valuables in the hotel safe.'

3

BAD : The small hotels are usually very valuable for money but the big ones are expensive.

GOOD : The small hotels are usually good value but the big ones are expensive.

◆◆◆

If something is worth what you pay for it, it is good value (for money) or (good) value for money : 'At just under $90 the Sony is very good value.' 'Having paid £200 for the suit, I expect to get better value for money.'

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.