content vs. contented

[Yura Reiri]

What's the difference between I felt content and I felt contented? Or between I was content and I was contented.

Thank you!

[Rover_KE]

I found this:

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...s-comfort.html

by looking at the Similar Threads at the bottom of the page.

Rover

[TheParser]

What's the difference between I felt content and I felt contented? Or between I was content and I was contented.

Thank you!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Yura Reiri:


(1) I have been trying for years to find a good explanation, and I have

never found one.

(2) I shall be happy to share the little (very little) that I have

learned.

(a) Most books and teachers say the two words are interchangeable.

(b) So it doesn't matter which one you use -- you are as correct

as anyone else!!! Even native speakers do not agree!!!

(c) There is only one time when you MUST use "contented": when it

comes before a noun:

"Mona is a very contented person."

"The milk from our farm comes from contented cows."

(d) Some (repeat: some) people feel that "content" is better for

a permanent state/condition:

A big newspaper has offered a good job to Tom, but he doesn't want it.

He says, "I don't want to move to the big city. I feel/am perfectly

content to stay in this small town until the day I die."

(e) Some (repeat: some) people feel that "contented" involves

some kind of action/doing:

I want our daughter to go to college. She doesn't want to. My wife

and I are very unhappy. But yesterday she came to us and said, "I know

how you feel, and you know how I feel. So I am going to do this: I am

going to attend college for one year. If I like it, I'll continue; if I don't,

I'll leave." I felt/was very contented with her decision.

(3) Maybe (a big "maybe") the best thing for a learner (and even a

native speaker) to do is this:

(a) Of course, ALWAYS use "contented" in front of a noun.

(b) For ALL other sentences, use "content." You will always be

"right" (since most native speakers say they are interchangeable).

Sincerely,


James


P.S. You have probably heard of the famous radio/TV/Internet

company in the United Kingdom called the British Broadcasting

Corporation. One person checked bbc.co.uk, and he found 1,910

examples of "not content" and 6 (!!!) examples of "not contented."

[nyota]

(c) There is only one time when you MUST use "contented": when it

comes before a noun:

"Mona is a very contented person."

"The milk from our farm comes from contented cows."

What about the following example though? It seems correct.

Sitting back down with a happy and content smile, I was surprised when a small lady in the audience stood up and walked over to the orange filled stage.

Source: BBC - Mid Wales Arts - Rachel's Review - Aber Acoustic Platform

[TheParser]

What about the following example though? It seems correct.

Source: BBC - Mid Wales Arts - Rachel's Review - Aber Acoustic Platform

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Nyota:


(1) Thank you for your interesting example.

(2) Surely no one can ever say that the wonderful BBC is ever

"wrong" !!!

(3) But I believe that the general "rule" in the United States is to

use "contented" in front of a noun. I thnk (of course, I do not

know) that most Americans' ears would prefer the sound of

"contented" in that sentence.

(4) And, of course, it is a "good" rule because it makes life so much

easier. That is, if you want to modify a noun and just use "contented"

each time, you do not have to go crazy trying to decide whether you

should use "content" or "contented."

Sincerely,


James