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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

set off/depart/go/leave

Hello,
Could you tell the the difference between:
- What time do we depart for Paris?
- What time do we set off for/to Paris?
- What time do we leave for Paris?

Also, I came across "Jenny set off down the road on her new bike". What does "set off" suggest to you? I see it as quite sudden, but it probably isn't. Depart is more formal, but I don't want to say something stupid, so I'd better stop now. What are the nuances?

I am not entirely sure if the Simple Present is appropriate here, but I have used it already. I would use "going to" or Present Continuous.
  

Top answer

- What time do we leave for Paris? There is no difference to discuss except that 'depart' is the most formal and 'leave' is the most usual. Gene93 What does "set off" suggest to you?

— CalifJim

  • - What time do we leave for Paris?
  • There is no difference to discuss except that 'depart' is the most formal and 'leave' is the most usual.
  • Gene93 What does "set off" suggest to you?
  • start (on a trip) It's not necessarily sudden.
  • Gene93 Simple Present That's fine.
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3 Answers
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Gene93Could you tell the the difference between: - What time do we depart for Paris?- What time do we set off for/to Paris?- What time do we leave for Paris?
There is no difference to discuss except that 'depart' is the most formal and 'leave' is the most usual.
Gene93What does "set off" suggest to you?
start (on
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I have one last question about the 'bike" sentence. Going down the street on your new bike is not much of a trip, is it? Instead of "set off", can we say: "Jenny went off down the road on her new bike"? For some reason it doesn't sound as good to me and I wish I knew why
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Gene93the 'bike" sentence
I have no memory of this.
Gene93Instead of "set off", can we say: "Jenny went off down the road on her new bike"?
We can.
Gene93it doesn't sound as good to me and I wish I knew why
Maybe because "went" is such an ordinary word. I don't know.

CJ
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