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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
How do you say, "a light bulb's gone dead"?
One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord that the light bulb in my kitchen has gone dead and to seek suggestion about where in my neighborhood I could buy the right type of light bulb.
I felt a bit bewildered to describe the situation. In conjunction to what I found in the dictionary, I have two ways to describe this situation.
1. The light bulb's gone dead.Although this will be probably understood by most of the American, somehow I feel this is too generalizing hence lacks precision.
2. The electric filament got old and the light bulb is dead.I am really unsure if this one can be understood instantly without my further explanations.
If you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising.
/palmtree
I felt a bit bewildered to describe the situation. In conjunction to what I found in the dictionary, I have two ways to describe this situation.
1. The light bulb's gone dead.Although this will be probably understood by most of the American, somehow I feel this is too generalizing hence lacks precision.
2. The electric filament got old and the light bulb is dead.I am really unsure if this one can be understood instantly without my further explanations.
If you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising.
/palmtree
Top answer
[nq:1]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord that the light bulb in my kitchen has gone dead ... can be understood instantly without my further explanations. If you were me, what would you say?
- [nq:1]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord that the light bulb in my kitchen has gone dead ...
- can be understood instantly without my further explanations.
- If you were me, what would you say?
- Thanks for advising.
- /palmtree[/nq] In the uk: "The bulb's blown in the kitchen.
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14 Answers
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[nq:1]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord that the light bulb in my kitchen has gone dead ... can be understood instantly without my further explanations. If you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising. /palmtree[/nq]
In the uk:
"The bulb's blown in the kitchen. Any idea of the best place to get a replacement?"
In the uk:
"The bulb's blown in the kitchen. Any idea of the best place to get a replacement?"
00
[nq:2]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord ... were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising. /palmtree[/nq]
[nq:1]In the uk: "The bulb's blown in the kitchen. Any idea of the best place to get a replacement?"[/nq]
Or 'the bulb's gone. Where can I get anew one?'
[nq:1]In the uk: "The bulb's blown in the kitchen. Any idea of the best place to get a replacement?"[/nq]
Or 'the bulb's gone. Where can I get anew one?'
00
[nq:1]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord that the light bulb in my kitchen has gone dead and to seek suggestion about where in my neighborhood I could buy the right type of light bulb.[/nq]
Burned out.. The supermarket or the hardware store will have them.
Burned out.. The supermarket or the hardware store will have them.
00
[nq:1]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord that the light bulb in my kitchen has gone dead ... one can be understood instantly without my further explanations. If you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising.[/nq]
Do you really believe that Americans can't understand the idea that a light bulb has gone dead, blown out, popped, shorted, frazzled?
"And he did bring
Do you really believe that Americans can't understand the idea that a light bulb has gone dead, blown out, popped, shorted, frazzled?
"And he did bring
00
[nq:2]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord ... you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising.[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you really believe that Americans can't understand the idea that a light bulb has gone dead, blown out, popped, shorted, frazzled?[/nq]
He said he thought it would probably be understood by most of the Americans. That leave some minority that would not understand
[nq:1]Do you really believe that Americans can't understand the idea that a light bulb has gone dead, blown out, popped, shorted, frazzled?[/nq]
He said he thought it would probably be understood by most of the Americans. That leave some minority that would not understand
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In alt.english.usage on Tue, 09 Aug 2005 12:39:46 -0700 "Bill Bonde ('by a commodius vicus of recirculation')"
[nq:2]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord ... you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising.[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you really believe that Americans can't understand the idea that a light bulb has gone dead, blown out, popped, shorted, frazzled?[/nq]
I don't thin
[nq:2]One day, I was trying to tell my American landlord ... you were me, what would you say? Thanks for advising.[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you really believe that Americans can't understand the idea that a light bulb has gone dead, blown out, popped, shorted, frazzled?[/nq]
I don't thin
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"Robert Lieblich" >
[nq:1]He said he thought it would probably be understood by most of the Americans. That leave some minority that would ... question was what Americans would say, and, as ray o'hara has already pointed out, Americans say "burned (or "burnt") out."[/nq]
I couldn't decide between burnt and burned. Originally I used burnt but then changed my mind. So I gather you think I
[nq:1]He said he thought it would probably be understood by most of the Americans. That leave some minority that would ... question was what Americans would say, and, as ray o'hara has already pointed out, Americans say "burned (or "burnt") out."[/nq]
I couldn't decide between burnt and burned. Originally I used burnt but then changed my mind. So I gather you think I
00
[nq:1]"Robert Lieblich" >[/nq]
[nq:2]He said he thought it would probably be understood by ... has already pointed out, Americans say "burned (or "burnt") out."[/nq]
[nq:1]I couldn't decide between burnt and burned. Originally I used burnt but then changed my mind. So I gather you think I should have used burnt.[/nq]
Who am I to judge? I say and write "burnt." Do as you wish.
[nq:2]He said he thought it would probably be understood by ... has already pointed out, Americans say "burned (or "burnt") out."[/nq]
[nq:1]I couldn't decide between burnt and burned. Originally I used burnt but then changed my mind. So I gather you think I should have used burnt.[/nq]
Who am I to judge? I say and write "burnt." Do as you wish.
00
[nq:2]"Robert Lieblich" > I couldn't decide between burnt and burned. ... So I gather you think I should have used burnt.[/nq]
[nq:1]Who am I to judge? I say and write "burnt." Do as you wish.[/nq]
I'lltake that for a yes.Next time I'll go with my gut.
[nq:1]Who am I to judge? I say and write "burnt." Do as you wish.[/nq]
I'lltake that for a yes.Next time I'll go with my gut.
00
[nq:2]Who am I to judge? I say and write "burnt." Do as you wish.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'lltake that for a yes.Next time I'll go with my gut.[/nq]
If you really want to impress and confuse people in equal measure, you could reserve "burned" for the past tense and "burnt" for the adjectival form. Thus you would say "The candle burned for three hours, and is now burnt out."
Matti
[nq:1]I'lltake that for a yes.Next time I'll go with my gut.[/nq]
If you really want to impress and confuse people in equal measure, you could reserve "burned" for the past tense and "burnt" for the adjectival form. Thus you would say "The candle burned for three hours, and is now burnt out."
Matti
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