Applying or put

[ihop]

Hi All,

Are both ok to say.

Please apply oil on the hair. OR
Please put the oil on the hair.

I personally don't find the second one correct because hair is not a container where we can keep/put anything.

What are your thoughts?

[bhaisahab]

Hi All,

Are both ok to say.

Please apply oil on the hair. OR
Please put the oil on the hair.

I personally don't find the second one correct because hair is not a container where we can keep/put anything.

What are your thoughts?

I would say "apply to" or "put on".

[ihop]

Thanks bhaisahab!

Please apply oil to the hair" sounds correct. But I'm still unclear logically about saying "Please put on oil on the hair(Hair not being a container to put anything)".

If put on is correct or not I find debatable. But since me not having a good command on this subject might be wrong in understanding the usage of put on.

[bhaisahab]

Thanks bhaisahab!

Please apply oil to the hair" sounds correct. But I'm still unclear logically about saying "Please put on oil on the hair(Hair not being a container to put anything)".

If put on is correct or not I find debatable. But since me not having a good command on this subject might be wrong in understanding the usage of put on.

To "put oil on one's hair" is correct.

[SoothingDave]

You don't need a container of some sort in order to "put" something somewhere.

Put your books on the table.

She put her make-up on.

Put a coat on, it's cold outside.

[ihop]

SoothingDave,

Thanks, but today I just need your help to clear my doubts on using put.

Put your books on the table. - You say this. Now my question is.....

When to use keep??

Why don't we say always "keep your books on the table"

when to use Keep then?

I guess, when we are teaching somebody that "You should always keep your books on the table".

I believe only in those sentences . Am I correct?

[SoothingDave]

"Put" means to do it now. It doesn't speak to any length of time.

"Keep" means to put them there and have them stay there for some period of time, perhaps permanently.

From "you can keep your belonging in this locker while you go swimming" to "This is where we keep the silverware."

[euncu]

***neither a teacher nor a native-speaker***

Why don't we say always "keep your books on the table"

when to use Keep then?

I guess, when we are teaching somebody that "You should always keep your books on the table".

I believe only in those sentences . Am I correct?

People normally keep their books on shelves.

Keeping is either letting things where they are or hiding (for securing) them. So, I don't understand why you think "to keep" is correct for that context. You should keep your books on a table, though, if you want them to be handy, for instance, when the exams are approaching (if you are a student).