Using "put on" and "put off"
"switch on" is the opposite of "switch off"
Can you please switch on the light?
Please switch off all the lights before you leave the office.
Is "put on" the opposite of "put off"?
"put on" and "put off" are phrasal verbs and they are not the opposite of each other. They are used to convey different meanings.
"put on" used in the 1st meaning:
He puts on his best clothes when he goes to church every Sunday.
(It means he wears his best clothes)
2nd meaning:
The bus driver put on the brakes suddenly, scaring all the passengers.
(It means the bus driver applied the brakes)
3rd meaning:
Do you mind if I put on a record? (It means play some songs or music)
4th meaning:
Mrs Harley has put on weight after giving birth to her first child.
(It means Mrs Harley has gained weight)
5th meaning:
Do the new employees put on a foreign accent when they're talking to their American boss?
(It means pretend to have a particular quality to make their American boss think highly of them)
6th meaning:
Our branch showroom will be putting on an exhibition of the new arrivals.
(It means will be presenting an exhibition)
Note that in the sentence "My mum told me to put the forks and spoons on the table", "put on" is NOT used as a phrasal verb. "put" is used as an action verb and "on" is used as a preposition.
"put off" used in the 1st meaning
She told the taxi driver to put her off near the bus station.
(It means to stop and allow her to get off the taxi)
2nd meaning:
My little sister keeps putting off her appointment with the dentist.
(It means keeps on delaying)
3rd meaning:
Due to the heavy rain, the football match was put off until further notice.
(It means put to a later date/postponed)
4th meaning:
All the guests have arrived and it's too late to put off the party now.
(It means to cancel the party)
5th meaning:
That irritating noise really put me off when I was trying to concentrate on my studies.
(It means disturbed me/made me lose concentration)
Click on "vocabulary" for more words and phrasal verbs.
Can you please switch on the light?
Please switch off all the lights before you leave the office.
Is "put on" the opposite of "put off"?
"put on" and "put off" are phrasal verbs and they are not the opposite of each other. They are used to convey different meanings.
"put on" used in the 1st meaning:
He puts on his best clothes when he goes to church every Sunday.
(It means he wears his best clothes)
2nd meaning:
The bus driver put on the brakes suddenly, scaring all the passengers.
(It means the bus driver applied the brakes)
3rd meaning:
Do you mind if I put on a record? (It means play some songs or music)
4th meaning:
Mrs Harley has put on weight after giving birth to her first child.
(It means Mrs Harley has gained weight)
5th meaning:
Do the new employees put on a foreign accent when they're talking to their American boss?
(It means pretend to have a particular quality to make their American boss think highly of them)
6th meaning:
Our branch showroom will be putting on an exhibition of the new arrivals.
(It means will be presenting an exhibition)
Note that in the sentence "My mum told me to put the forks and spoons on the table", "put on" is NOT used as a phrasal verb. "put" is used as an action verb and "on" is used as a preposition.
"put off" used in the 1st meaning
She told the taxi driver to put her off near the bus station.
(It means to stop and allow her to get off the taxi)
2nd meaning:
My little sister keeps putting off her appointment with the dentist.
(It means keeps on delaying)
3rd meaning:
Due to the heavy rain, the football match was put off until further notice.
(It means put to a later date/postponed)
4th meaning:
All the guests have arrived and it's too late to put off the party now.
(It means to cancel the party)
5th meaning:
That irritating noise really put me off when I was trying to concentrate on my studies.
(It means disturbed me/made me lose concentration)
Click on "vocabulary" for more words and phrasal verbs.
By Susan L
On 1/22/2010 05:39:00 AM
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View More Articles... On 1/22/2010 05:39:00 AM
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