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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

Using the verb 'shipwreck'

I just wonder if the following sentence appeals to any:

-Due to the plane crash, many passengers were [shipwrecked] on an island in the middle of nowhere.
(The student is supposed to choose 'shipwrecked' among four choices. Three of which make absolutely no sense, while the fourth, which is 'shipwrecked', was said to have been the correct answer.)

Does it make any sense at all in accordance with the use of the verb?
I'm aware that when planes sink they are 'shipwrecked'.
Nevertheless, is it sane to put such sentence in an exam for non-native English learners?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Nevertheless, is it sane to put such sentence in an exam for non-native English learners? No. That is just wrong.

— Anonymous

  • Anonymous Nevertheless, is it sane to put such sentence in an exam for non-native English learners?
  • No.
  • That is just wrong.
  • org/dictionary/british/shipwreck
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8 Answers
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AnonymousNevertheless, is it sane to put such sentence in an exam for non-native English learners?
No. That is just wrong. See this http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/shipwreck
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My opinion: Shipwreck is a very uncommonly used word in English. So it would not be in a typical learner's vocabulary.

However, it may be a very good word for an exam because the student has to have both critical thinking skills and knowledge of how the language works. In this case: forming compound words, regular verb inflection (verb+ed making the past participle), and the common
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AlpheccaStarsMy opinion: Shipwreck is a very uncommonly used word in English. So it would not be in a typical learner's vocabulary.However, it may be a very good word for an exam because the student has to have both critical thinking skills and knowledge of how the language works. In this case: forming compound words, regular verb inflection (verb+ed making the past partic
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AnonymousSo the point of controversy isn't here, actually it is: Is it possible to say, "I was shipwrecked on an island due to a plane crash"?
I said in my previous post that I would have used stranded. Marooned is also appropriate.
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AnonymousIs it possible to say, "I was shipwrecked on an island due to a plane crash"?How come, Does it sound any good?
No. It is made clear at the link in the first reply, that "shipwrecked" only applies to situations that actually involve a ship.
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Planes are designed to float after a crash landing on water. They have floating cushions for people to use as life vests in the water. So "shipwreck" might actually be appropriate, if the plane becomes a floating vessel after landing in water.

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AlpheccaStarsPlanes are designed to float after a crash landing on water. They have floating cushions for people to use as life vests in the water. So "shipwreck" might actually be appropriate, if the plane becomes a floating vessel after landing in water.
That still does not make them ships.
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AnonymousThat still does not make them ships.
True, but no one has coined the word "planewreck." Sometimes you just have to be creative with the lexicon.
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