Nervous vs. tense

Question

Hi,Is it fine to use 'tense' instead of  'nervous' in the following sentences? Is there any difference in meaning between the two words? 1.I'm always nervous when I have to speak in public.2.Paul always gets nervous whenever he has to give a presentation.3.She was so nervous about her exams that she couldn't sleep.4.Don't be nervous. The doctor won't hurt you.5.I wish you'd stop looking at me like that. You're making me nervous.6.We were all a bit nervous of him at first.7.She's a nervous, sensitive child.Thanks.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousIs it fine to use 'tense' instead of 'nervous' in the following sentences?

Yes, but 'nervous' sounds better to me, particularly in 4, 5, 6, and 7.

"nervous about him", by the way, or "nervous around him". Not "nervous of him".

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,

CalifJimbut 'nervous' sounds better to me, particularly in 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Does 'tense' sound natural in 4, 5, 6 and 7?

CalifJim"nervous about him", by the way, or "nervous around him". Not "nervous of him".

I got the following sentence from an online dictionary, I wonder why 'nervous of him' isn't correct.
"We were all a bit nervous of him at first."

Could you please tell me the difference in meaning between them in all the examples above?

Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousDoes 'tense' sound natural in 4, 5, 6 and 7?

Not completely, no, even though there is no difference between 'nervous' and 'tense' in those sentences. It's a matter of using the words that other people usually use in certain expressions.

Don't be nervous in the context of seeing a doctor sounds normal and natural. Don't be tense means the same thing, but it doesn't sound as normal and natural.
You're making me nervous is such a common expression that it sounds strange to say You're making me tense — even though they mean the same thing.
We were tense around him makes sense, but so does We were nervous around him. nervous just seems to be the slightly more common word there.
To speak of children as nervous is more common than to speak of them as tense.
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The slight difference between the two has to do with this: Most often, tense denotes only a temporary state, like a mood. On the other hand, nervous can denote a general character trait, like a nervous child (as well as a temporary state).
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Sometimes the difference between words has nothing to do with different meanings. It has to do with how the words are used in common expressions. It has to do with what other words they combine with most often in those expressions.

AnonymousI got the following sentence from an online dictionary, I wonder why 'nervous of him' isn't correct."We were all a bit nervous of him at first."

That's interesting. I have never heard "nervous of". Consequently, I can't tell you the difference between 'nervous of' and nervous about'.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,
Does 'tense' sound as natural as 'nervous' in 1, 2, and 3?

Could you please check if 'tense' sounds natural in these sentences?
8.I was too tense to speak.
9.He always becomes tense under stress.
10.Why are you so tense?

Thank you very much for your helpful reply.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousDoes 'tense' sound as natural as 'nervous' in 1, 2, and 3?

I'd say so, yes.

Anonymouscheck if 'tense' sounds natural

8, 9, and 10 are all OK and natural.

CJ

Nervous vs. tense

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