I've got 100 kilos. Let me look. Yes, the real weight is 108 kilos.

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sb70012

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I've got 100 kilos. Let me look. Yes, the actual weight is 108 kilos.

Hi,
That's written in my grammar book. Teaching the usage of actual and actually.

Can I say real instead of actual?

I mean: I've got 100 kilos. Let me look. Yes, the real weight is 108 kilos.

Thank you.
 

MikeNewYork

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I've got 100 kilos. Let me look. Yes, the actual weight is 108 kilos.

Hi,
That's written in my grammar book. Teaching the usage of actual and actually.

Can I say real instead of actual?

I mean: I've got 100 kilos. Let me look. Yes, the real weight is 108 kilos.

Thank you.

Yes, but I think actual works better in this case.

See the synonyms section here: Real | Define Real at Dictionary.com
 

SoothingDave

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Or even "exact weight."
 

sb70012

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Thank you both for answering but I wish one would tell me if there is a difference between real and actual. As you see, it's sometimes confusing. Not very but somehow.
 

Rover_KE

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If there is a difference its not important enough to spend time worrying about.
 

MikeNewYork

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Thank you both for answering but I wish one would tell me if there is a difference between real and actual. As you see, it's sometimes confusing. Not very but somehow.

Did you read the usage note in the link I provided? The difference is subtle.
 

sb70012

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Did you read the usage note in the link I provided? The difference is subtle.
Yes thank you. I completely understood what Real is but not Actual.
Here is the explanation:
Real, is genuine as opposed to counterfeit, false, or merely supposed: a real emerald; real leather binding; My real ambition is to be a dentist. Actual usually stresses contrast with another state of affairs that has been proposed or suggested: The actual cost is much less; to conceal one's actual motive.

I just can't understand what the red part means. Would you please clarify it to me?

Many thanks in advance.

 

MikeNewYork

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Yes thank you. I completely understood what Real is but not Actual.
Here is the explanation:
Real, is genuine as opposed to counterfeit, false, or merely supposed: a real emerald; real leather binding; My real ambition is to be a dentist. Actual usually stresses contrast with another state of affairs that has been proposed or suggested: The actual cost is much less; to conceal one's actual motive.

I just can't understand what the red part means. Would you please clarify it to me?

Many thanks in advance.


The part in red is directly applicable to your original question. The first person said that there were 100 kilos. That is what was proposed or suggested. By contrast, the actual weight was found to be 108 kilos.
 

sb70012

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The part in red is directly applicable to your original question. The first person said that there were 100 kilos. That is what was proposed or suggested. By contrast, the actual weight was found to be 108 kilos.
Yes thank you. But in this sentence "The actual cost is much less; to conceal one's actual motive." which part is the contrast? I mean I can't see where the difference is.
 

MikeNewYork

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Yes thank you. But in this sentence "The actual cost is much less; to conceal one's actual motive." which part is the contrast? I mean I can't see where the difference is.

In both instances, an alternative is implied. It probably came in a previous sentence.
John was given an estimate of $15,000 for the car. But with a trade-in, the actual cost is much less.
People assumed he became a lawyer to help people. But his actual motive was to get rich.
 
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