got off vs alighted

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Anonymous

#408443 Thu, 23 Aug 07 07:09 PM

He got off at the station at 9 o'clock.

Can I replace here the "got off" with "alighted"?

If possible, please give me some more alternatives for "got off" which is used in spoken English.

Anonymous

Clive

#408458 Thu, 23 Aug 07 07:38 PM

Hi,

He got off at the station at 9 o'clock.

Can I replace here the "got off" with "alighted"? Yes, but it's extremely formal.

If possible, please give me some more alternatives for "got off" which are used in spoken English.

His train arrived at 9 o'clock.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,182)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Yoong Liat

#408473 Thu, 23 Aug 07 08:08 PM

Anonymous wrote:

He got off at the station at 9 o'clock.

Can I replace here the "got off" with "alighted"?

If possible, please give me some more alternatives for "got off" which is used in spoken English.

The passengers got off the bus.

The passengers got off the train.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,085)

Yoong Liat

Anonymous

#417628 Wed, 12 Sep 07 05:02 PM

Yes you can- as in- He alighted from the train at the station.

Alternatives for "got off"- disembarked, off-boarded, left the train, got down

Anonymous

Yoong Liat

#417673 Wed, 12 Sep 07 07:43 PM

Anonymous wrote:

Yes you can- as in- He alighted from the train at the station.

Alternatives for "got off"- disembarked, off-boarded, left the train, got down

He got down from the train at the station is incorrect.

How could it be an alternative for 'alighted from'?

Yoong Liat

Goodman

#417691 Wed, 12 Sep 07 08:11 PM

Please alight the bus through the read door = Please exit the bus/ get off the bus through the rear door.

Alight is rarely used in the US. It’s used more commonly in previous British Colonies because of the Brit. influence.

Disembark is more of formal usage, typically used in reference to ocean liners and long distant trains.

You won’t hear “disembarkation” on a daily commute train however.

He got down from the train- is just totally sounding odd. Everybody is getting down - sounds like something you would say when everyone is having a good time in a party….. Smile [:)]

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,243)

The name says it all!

Clive

#417733 Wed, 12 Sep 07 10:00 PM

Hi Goodman,

Alight is rarely used in the US. It’s used more commonly in previous British Colonies because of the Brit. influence.

Some people consider the US a previous British Colony.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Grammar Geek

#417747 Wed, 12 Sep 07 10:43 PM

Clive wrote:

Some people consider the US a previous British Colony.

Best wishes, Clive

Touche!

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,989)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Goodman

#417777 Thu, 13 Sep 07 12:19 AM

Clive wrote:

Hi Goodman,

Alight is rarely used in the US. It’s used more commonly in previous British Colonies because of the Brit. influence.

Some people consider the US a previous British Colony.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

You know, that's a true revelation ! Never thought of that...

Goodman

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