The toilet

Question

Hi,I have a question regarding the correctness of the following sentence; 'The toilet is busy'. Is this usage correct?I know more appropriate form would be to say that 'the toilet is occupied'. But I am sure I have encountered instances where either I or somebody else used the former mentioned from of this sentence. Also, I have some doubt regarding the following sentence: 'I can bring you to the station'. This usage is wrong according to me, as I would rather say 'I can take you to the station' or 'I can drop you to the station'. I think it is more appropriate to use 'bring' in the form; 'I can bring you the new CD'. I don't know the grammatic rule here, but the former form doesn't seem correct (cause of some reason) to me. It would be nice if you could elaborate on the grammatic rule here.......Thanks in advance,Karan

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

You are really asking about vocabulary choices rather than about grammar. There are no grammar rules about such matters.

We do often say such things when we are speaking casually, and most times everyone seems to understand our meaning.

Clive

Khoff · Answer

In  the U.S., people very rarely refer to 'the toilet" unless they are talking about the actual object -- "the toilet is broken/clogged/overflowing."  The room containing the toilet is called the bathroom in private homes and the restroom in public places.  So, in a public place you would say "the restroom is occupied."

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous'The toilet is busy'. Is this usage correct?

I believe it is correct in British English, but I'm not British so I can't be sure. It would not be used in the U.S.

Anonymous'I can bring you to the station'. This usage is wrong according to me, as I would rather say 'I can take you to the station' or 'I can drop you to the station'.

I would say "I can take you to the station" or "I can drop you atthe station". "bring" does seem wrong to me. Nevertheless, the distinction between "bring" and "take" is not always strictly observed, even by native speakers.

AnonymousI think it is more appropriate to use 'bring' in the form; 'I can bring you the new CD'.

Yes. That's reasonable.

AnonymousIt would be nice if you could elaborate on the grammatic rule here.

As mentioned above, it's not really a grammar rule. It's a usage rule. In "take you to the station", you're going to the station and the other person is going with you. The other person isn't already at the station. So it's "take". In "bring you the new CD", the other person is not with you; the other person is somewhere else. In the choice between "bring" and "take" the geographical position of the speaker and the listener is taken into account. Usually "take" is like "go" and "bring" is like "come", but not always, and that's what gets confusing. I can't say that I always use them correctly myself!

CJ

Vorpar · Answer

Even in BrE, I imagine that "The toilet is busy" means that there are frequent users.

Anonymous · Answer

What if it takes very long and you want someone to hurry a bit? What could you say? In a more or less polite way?

Something like, "How long are you going to be in there? I´m desperate!"

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimAnonymous'The toilet is busy'. Is this usage correct?

I believe it is correct in British English, but I'm not British so I can't be sure. It would not be used in the U.S.

It is.

Anonymous · Answer

khoff In the U.S., people very rarely refer to 'the toilet" unless they are talking about the actual object -- "the toilet is broken/clogged/overflowing." The room containing the toilet is called the bathroom in private homes and the restroom in public places. So, in a public place you would say "the restroom is occupied."

That's not the case in the UK where the term "restroom" has no meaning.

A separate room containing a toilet and no bath, is also referred to as a toilet. The word bathroom means a room containing a bath or shower, with or without a toilet as well.

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