[title]Family quotes[/title] [description]Welcome to our family quotes section! Here you'll find some of the funniest (and wisest) quotes on the subject of family life![/description]
Learn English and meet people on the world’s largest EFL social network

We have partnered with TradePub to bring you free industry magazines and resources - no coupons or credit cards required!

Visit: englishforums.tradepub.com


Share this topic:
This question is Not Answered
Latest post Tue, Sep 14 2004 9:32 PM by Yoko. 2 replies.
Suggest an answer | | |
Yoko  +  45584 Tue, 14 Sep 04 09:32 PM
'The window must be open.'
Is this sentence correct?

According to my dictionary, when I use 'open' like this, as an predicate adjective,
the meaning is to run a shop or a bank.
Should I change 'open' to 'opened'?

And is 'Keep the window open.' correct?
Is this usage same with the above one?

Please tell me.
Yoko
Joined on Tue, May 18 2004
Junior Member 56
anon1  +  45590 Tue, 14 Sep 04 10:53 PM
Hi Yoko,

Both sentences are correct. As far as I can tell, the usage is the same.


Ex. 1
Sue: I feel a draft in this room.
Sally: The window must be open.

Ex. 2
In order to get some fresh air in the house, the windows must be open.

Ex. 3.
There is a small window of time that is open every Fall season when you can apply.

Ex. 4
It is hot in here. Please keep the window open to let the cool air in.

Ex. 5
Sue: Is the window open? I feel cold.
Sally: Yes, I opened the window yesterday because it was very hot outside.

I hope that helps.

MountainHiker
Joined on Fri, Jul 2 2004
Senior Member 2,049
CalifJim  +  45658 Wed, 15 Sep 04 08:31 AM
"open" is a state (adj). "opened" is a form of the verb "to open".

An open window is a window which is open (not closed).

The window is open. (The window is not closed.)
Keep the window open. (Do not close it.)

The window is opened at 8 o'clock every morning. (Someone opens it every morning.)

Get into the elevator while the door is open. (while it is not closed)
The elevator door opened. (became open)

I opened the door. It is now open.

I had wrapped the packages neatly and left to go shopping. When I returned, I was surprised to find all the packages opened. (Out of curiosity, the children had opened them while I was away.)

In the preceding example, we must use "opened" for the packages, because packages are not the sort of thing that are naturally in either an open or closed state, like doors and windows and books.

There is room for disagreement on this last point, however, and there may be those who readily accept " ... find all the packages open".

The part about running a shop or bank didn't make sense to me, by the way. I don't know what your dictionary was trying to say by that.

Note that English does not have the equivalent distinctions for "closed", that is, there is no "close" meaning the opposite of "open". The window is closed.
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,465
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
© MediaCet Ltd. 2009, v5.0.3616.28671. All content posted by our users is a contribution to the public domain, this does not include imported usenet posts.*
For web related enquires please contact us on webmaster@mediacet.com, status updates are available at status.mediacet.com.
*Usenet post removal: Use 'X-No-Archive'. You may not have understood that your posts would end up in the public domain. Please send proof of the poster's email, we will remove immediately.