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Stephenlearner Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Out and off in relation to gas, electrity and light
Hi,
The below are my understanding of out and off in describing light, electricity, and gas.
I wonder if they are correct.
The light is out; the light is off.
Both are correct. Same meaning. The lamp stops providing light; the lamp does not shine.
The electricity is out. The electricity is off.
The former is correct, while the latter is not. That the electricity is out means there is no more electricity left, and we shoul buy it from the company that provides it.
The gas is out; the gas is off.
Both are correct, but meanings are not the same. That the gas is out means we have run out of the gas, and we should buy more from the company that provides it. While the gas is off means that we have switched off the gas, and there is some left in the pipe or container.
Can somebody correct me if there is something wrong?
Thank you very much.
The below are my understanding of out and off in describing light, electricity, and gas.
I wonder if they are correct.
The light is out; the light is off.
Both are correct. Same meaning. The lamp stops providing light; the lamp does not shine.
The electricity is out. The electricity is off.
The former is correct, while the latter is not. That the electricity is out means there is no more electricity left, and we shoul buy it from the company that provides it.
The gas is out; the gas is off.
Both are correct, but meanings are not the same. That the gas is out means we have run out of the gas, and we should buy more from the company that provides it. While the gas is off means that we have switched off the gas, and there is some left in the pipe or container.
Can somebody correct me if there is something wrong?
Thank you very much.
Top answer
"The light is out" is not incorrect, but in the US we don't often use the expression to mean the light has been switched off. " The lights are out in that house. The lights are out in the city .
- "The light is out" is not incorrect, but in the US we don't often use the expression to mean the light has been switched off.
- " The lights are out in that house.
- The lights are out in the city .
- (can mean the power is out) In the old days we'd say "The lamp is out," referring to an oil lamp.
- This could mean it was out of oil or someone had "put it out" by smothering the flame.
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2 Answers
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"The light is out" is not incorrect, but in the US we don't often use the expression to mean the light has been switched off.
We often say "The bulb is out," meaning "burned out."
We do say, "The lights are out." The lights are out in that house. The lights are out in the city. (can mean the power is out)
In the old days we'd say "The lamp is out," referring to an oil lamp. T
We often say "The bulb is out," meaning "burned out."
We do say, "The lights are out." The lights are out in that house. The lights are out in the city. (can mean the power is out)
In the old days we'd say "The lamp is out," referring to an oil lamp. T
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