tendency

tendency — noun

1. A tendency is a habitual or likely way of behaving — a personal pattern that sha

1.名詞B1
釋義

A tendency is a habitual or likely way of behaving — a personal pattern that shapes how someone regularly acts, reacts, or feels.

例句

Tendai has a tendency to arrive late whenever the traffic is heavy on the highway.

tendency + to-infinitive with conditional clause

Madison's tendency to worry about small details often slows down her team's progress.

possessive + tendency + to-infinitive as subject

同義詞
  • inclination

    Suggests a more deliberate preference or desire; slightly more formal.

  • propensity

    Implies a stronger, sometimes involuntary drive; more formal.

  • leaning

    More informal; describes a mild preference that may not lead to action.

文法句型

someone's tendency to do something

a tendency to do something

用法筆記

This sense always describes a personal behavioural pattern, so the subject of the possessive determiner is typically a person. The noun requires a determiner (a, the, my, his, her, etc.) — tendency is countable and cannot stand alone without one.

常見錯誤

❌I have tendency to be late.
✅I have a tendency to be late.
💡tendency is a countable noun and needs an article or determiner.
❌She has a tendency of being late.
✅She has a tendency to be late.
💡tendency is followed by to + infinitive, not of + gerund.

2. A tendency is a general direction or pattern in which events, conditions, or nat

2.名詞B2
釋義

A tendency is a general direction or pattern in which events, conditions, or natural systems develop or change over time — for example, a tendency for prices to rise during a certain season.

例句

There is a growing tendency for young people to rent rather than buy a home.

tendency + for [noun] + to-infinitive

Wei observed a tendency for prices to rise whenever the rainy season begins.

同義詞
  • trend

    More data-driven and statistical; often used in business or social analysis.

  • pattern

    Focuses on repetition and recognisable shape; broader in use.

  • drift

    Suggests a slow, gradual movement in a particular direction; slightly literary.

文法句型

a tendency for [noun] to [verb]

a tendency toward [noun]

a tendency of [noun] to [verb]

常見錯誤

❌There is tendency for rain.
✅There is a tendency for it to rain in the winter.
💡tendency needs a determiner and typically a fuller clause rather than a bare noun.

3. A tendency is a noticeable shift or movement toward a particular state, where so

3.名詞C1
釋義

A tendency is a noticeable shift or movement toward a particular state, where something becomes more frequent, more intense, or more common over time.

例句

Vikram noticed a tendency among older workers to resist new software systems.

tendency + among + [group] + to-infinitive

The tendency toward shorter work weeks has gained support in several countries.

同義詞
  • movement

    Emphasises collective action or social change; broader in scope.

  • shift

    Highlights a change from one state to another; often used for cultural or organisational change.

  • direction

    Focuses on the endpoint or goal rather than the process of change.

文法句型

a tendency toward [noun]

a tendency to [verb]

a tendency for [noun] to [verb]

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with 'trend' but is slightly more abstract — tendency here describes the direction of change rather than a measurable statistical pattern. Common in academic and analytical writing.