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Thread: go to bed/go to sleep

  1. #1
    Winwin2011 is offline Senior Member
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    Default go to bed/go to sleep

    1.What is the difference of go to bed and go to sleep?
    2. If a kid is already in bed, but he is opening his eyes and asking innocent questions from his mother. Can the mother say "go to sleep"? Can we say "go to bed" (the kid is already in bed now)?
    3. If a kid is on an aeroplane, can we say "go to bed" to the kid?

    Thanks a lot for your help!

  2. #2
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    Barb_D is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: go to bed/go to sleep

    Quote Originally Posted by Winwin2011 View Post
    1.What is the difference of go to bed and go to sleep?
    2. If a kid is already in bed, but he is opening his eyes and asking innocent questions from his mother. Can the mother say "go to sleep"? Can we say "go to bed" (the kid is already in bed now)?
    3. If a kid is on an aeroplane, can we say "go to bed" to the kid?

    Thanks a lot for your help!
    Go to bed: Leave the place you're in and go to your bedroom for the purpose of sleeping.
    Go to sleep: You are already in a place where sleep is expected/possible (bed, the couch, the airplane).
    2. No.
    3. No.
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    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  3. #3
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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: go to bed/go to sleep

    Quote Originally Posted by Winwin2011 View Post
    1.What is the difference of between 'go to bed' and 'go to sleep'?
    I sometimes go to bed and read for some time before I go to sleep.
    2. If a kid is already in bed, but he is opening his eyes and asking innocent questions from his mother., C can the mother say "go to sleep"?.....Yes
    Can we say "go to bed" (the kid is already in bed now)? .....No
    3. If a kid is on an aeroplane, can we say "go to bed" to the kid?
    Not unless we are millionaires, and have bedrooms in our private jets.
    5
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    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  4. #4
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    Default Re: go to bed/go to sleep

    I'm sorry - I just realized I said "no" to #2 and there were two questions there. I completely agree with 5jj - "yes" to the first and "no" to the second.

    I'll modify my first answer to say "for the purpose of (eventually) going to sleep." (I will sometimes take my phone and get caught up in my Words with Friends game while in bed as well.)
    Winwin2011 likes this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  5. #5
    Winwin2011 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: go to bed/go to sleep

    Many thanks to Moderator Bar_D and 5jj.

    Is it wrong to just say "sleep" instead of "go to sleep" when a kid is already in bed?

  6. #6
    SoothingDave is online now VIP Member
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    Default Re: go to bed/go to sleep

    Quote Originally Posted by Winwin2011 View Post
    Many thanks to Moderator Bar_D and 5jj.

    Is it wrong to just say "sleep" instead of "go to sleep" when a kid is already in bed?
    No. It's a bit of a stern command, but it's possible.
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  7. #7
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    Default Re: go to bed/go to sleep

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    No. It's a bit of a stern command, but it's possible.
    I wouldn't even say it was necessarily stern. Tone of voice, context...? Especially if there's another word or words - 'sleep now, that's enough questions, sleep darling'.

    b
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