Grammar check please?

Question

Hi there,This is my conclusion from my study and dictionary, please correct me if I am wrong?1) Water/heat/wind/pain/anger could generally go "subside, weaken and weaken".2) Pain/noise could usually go "deaden".3) Water/sun usually go "sink".4) Path/land/stair/airplane usually go "descent".5) Popularity/memory/profit/land/rate/wage/number usually go "decline". (The most versatile word)6) Reduce/decrease/diminish are pretty much interchangeable I believe?Thanks in advance

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

John Aki
1) Water/heat/wind/pain/anger could generally go "subside, weaken and weaken". Same word twice! Yes, in general, but the specifics may differ.
Water subsides after a flood. We don't say that it weakens.
The same is true for 'heat' and 'wind'.
A storm and a fever can also subside.
2) Pain/noise could usually go with "deaden".
Those can be objects of 'deaden'. Yes. Also 'sound'.
deadened the [pain / noise / sound]
3) Water/sun usually go "sink". (Past: 'sank')
The sun sank in the west. 'sun' is OK, but not 'water'.
Literal usage: The [boat / ship] sank in the ocean. Unfortunately, there were no survivors.
Figurative usage: My heart sank when I heard the bad news. / Our spirits sank when our trip to Kyoto was cancelled.
(The sun sank is also figurative.)
4) Path/land/stair/airplane usually go "descend".
The verb is 'descend'. The noun is 'descent'.
Those are OK with 'descend'.
5) Popularity/memory/profit/land/rate/wage/number usually go "decline". (The most versatile word) Yes.
[personal income / home ownership / mail volume / prices / revenue / ...] declined
6) Reduce/decrease/diminish are pretty much interchangeable I believe? Not always. It depends on the other words around them.

CJ

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