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08-Jul-2004, 09:29
| | |  garbage, rubbish, junk
Garbage, rubbish, junk
What is the difference between them?
Pls give examples showing in which situation each the above is used.
Many thanks! |
09-Jul-2004, 12:50
|  | Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: England
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I think they all mean the same. 
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Red5
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Please note: I am not a teacher of English, just someone who loves the language. |
09-Jul-2004, 14:44
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| | Re: garbage, rubbish, junk
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Anonymous Garbage, rubbish, junk
What is the difference between them?
Pls give examples showing in which situation each the above is used.
Many thanks! | garbage = trash as in household waste
garbage = talking trash (US) about some one. Saying nasty things about someone
rubbish =hardly used in US
junk = useless things |
10-Jul-2004, 09:17
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
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In British English, we use 'rubbish' much more than 'garbage'. |
10-Jul-2004, 10:32
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We tend to use 'junk' with mail that we didn't ask for, and don't want. ;) |
10-Jul-2004, 14:58
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
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And we use 'mail' rather than 'post'. We must have picked it upfrom the States. |
10-Jul-2004, 17:47
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| | In reply to tdol
Is it correct to say that the British English and American English are "melting" slowly  :wink:
BTW: rubbish is a also a synonym for nonsens, isn't it
Correct me please if not, I have started to put up a synonym list for my nephew who will be soon in his 6th year of learning English. :)
THX Ulli :D |
10-Jul-2004, 19:23
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
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We can borrow freely from each other, but continue to develop our own styles. What the internet has showed me is just how many small differences there between the two. However, they rarely impede comprehension. I wouldn't say we're melting or merging, but we can take whatever we like from each other.
(Nonsense) |
11-Jul-2004, 06:44
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| | In reply to tdol
Yes, that's great, :wink: but at school the British and American expressions are taken very strict. I think it's better to learn these separately before one ma use them freely.
Do you agree with me :wink:
Ulli |
11-Jul-2004, 08:50
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There are many areas where the words are different- we never use 'pants' for 'trousers', though 'movie' and 'film' are both used here now. It is important to know the areas where the words are different, so learning them separately does make sense. | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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