Friday, 2 July 2010

close and shut

1 Close and shut can often be used with the same meaning.

  • Open your mouth and close/shut your eyes.

  • I can't close/shut the window. Can you help me?


The past participles closed and shut can be used as adjectives.

  • The post office is closed/shut on Saturday afternoon.


Shut is not usually used before a noun.

  • a closed door (not a shut door)

  • closed eyes (not shut eyes)


2 We prefer close for slow movements (like flowers closing at night), and close is more common in a formal style.

  • As we watched, he closed his eyes for the last time.

  • Shut your mouth!


3 We close roads, railways etc (channels of communication).
We close ( = end) letters, bank accounts, meetings etc.

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