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SheltieBites Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Light Bulb

"The light bulb burnt."
"The light bulb burnt out."
"There is no light with a burnt-out light bulb."
"There is no light with a burnt light bulb."

When to add "out" and when not to?
  

Top answer

Hi, Consider this. The light-bulb burnt. This is a rather awkward and old-fashioned way to say that the light was on.

— Clive

  • Hi, Consider this.
  • The light-bulb burnt.
  • This is a rather awkward and old-fashioned way to say that the light was on.
  • The light-bulb burnt out.
  • This means it ceased to work.
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6 Answers
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Hi,

Consider this.

The light-bulb burnt. This is a rather awkward and old-fashioned way to say that the light was on.

The light-bulb burnt out. This means it ceased to work.

I u
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CliveHi,Consider this.The light-bulb burnt. This is a rather awkward and old-fashioned way to say that the light was on.The light-bulb burnt out. This means it ceased to work.I usually see the form 'burned' rather than 'burnt'.Clive
What about these:

"a burned-out light bulb"
"a burned light bulb."

?
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Hi,

What about these:

"a burned-out light bulb" This is fine. A bulb that has ceased to work.
"a burned light bulb." What meaning are you intending here?

Clive
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If I have a previously clear-looking light bulb showing sooty-black patches on the glass part, should I call it a "burned light bulb" or "burned-out light bulb"?
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Hi,

a burned-out bulb

But -
- Where I live, modern light-bulbs do not show such black marks. They simply stop working.

- I don't hear anyone say 'a burned -out bulb'.
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I might say "a burned-out light bulb." (I'm replacing some bulbs, but now I don't remember if the one lying on the table is a new one or a burned-out one.)
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