ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: To tilt, to tip vs. to cant, to slant

Marius Hancu — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:40:21 GMT

Go to Google and search for

"I canted my"
(quotation marks are important)

and you'll find enough examples of what can be coupled with this expression.

Re: To tilt, to tip vs. to cant, to slant

MarvinTheMartian — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:22:35 GMT

Thank you everyone. Let me recapitulate: the first, second and fourth options ("tilt", "tip" and "slant") are all acceptable, but the fourth one ("cant") is not. Could someone please post some more examples of the correct usage of "cant"? I'm not sure I understand why it can't be used in this context.

Re: To tilt, to tip vs. to cant, to slant

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:29:37 GMT

Yes, but you wouldn't really use it in connection to a chair.

I think it's quite a rare word to use.

Nona

Re: To tilt, to tip vs. to cant, to slant

Marius Hancu — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:54:04 GMT

-----
cant

3 : to set at an angle : tip or tilt up or over : SLOPE, SLANT, INCLINE <cant a cask> <cant a ship>

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com
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Still, quite rare in such context.

Re: To tilt, to tip vs. to cant, to slant

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:57:33 GMT

I've not ever heard 'cant' used with this meaning, so it is a bit obscure. The other options are much better.

To tilt, to tip vs. to cant, to slant

MarvinTheMartian — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:51:14 GMT

Hello,

I often say (and hear others say) "I tilted my chair back" or "I tipped my chair back". Would it be equally all right to say "I canted my chair back" (as opposed to "I canted back in my chair") or "I slanted my chair back". To me, all these verbs mean more or less the same thing - at least in this context.