Ice skate/skates roller skate/roller skates

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Are the following word combinations used correctly?

1. 'Ice skate' a verb.

2. 'Ice skates' we use them for ice skating.

3. 'Ice skaters' are people who ice skate.

4. 'Roller skates' are used for roller skating.

5. 'Roller skaters' are people who roller skate.

6. 'Roller skate' is a verb.

 

[GoesStation]

They're all correct.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

Are the following word combinations used correctly?

1. 'Ice skate' is a verb.

2. 'Ice skates' [STRIKE]we use them[/STRIKE] are used for ice skating.

3. 'Ice skaters' are people who ice skate.

4. 'Roller skates' are used for roller skating.

5. 'Roller skaters' are people who roller skate.

6. 'Roller skate' is a verb.

Note my changes above. I have made them all complete sentences.

 

[Yankee]

Hello.

Are the following word combinations used correctly?

1. 'Ice skate' a verb. Yes, unless you are referring to one of two skates (pair) in which case it would be a noun. "My ice skate has a damaged blade."

2. 'Ice skates' we use them for ice skating.

3. 'Ice skaters' are people who ice skate.

4. 'Roller skates' are used for roller skating.

5. 'Roller skaters' are people who roller skate.

6. 'Roller skate' is a verb.

#'s 2,3,4,5 OK.
6. Same response as in #1

 

[emsr2d2]

#s 2, 3, 4 and 5 are OK.

I'm always loth to show corrections to another teacher's posts, but I had to sort out the spacing around the commas there.

Learners - please remember that you must put a space after every comma; before the last item in a list, use "and" but no comma. Don't use an apostrophe to make a plural. Also, we encourage everyone to write in complete sentences on the forum.

 

[Yankee]

I'm always loth to show corrections to another teacher's posts, but I had to sort out the spacing around the commas there.

Learners - please remember that you must put a space after every comma; before the last item in a list, use "and" but no comma. Don't use an apostrophe to make a plural. Also, we encourage everyone to write in complete sentences on the forum.

It's OK to be "loth". But remember, "Loth is a variant of loath and serves no purpose of its own. It is most common in U.K. English, though even U.K. writers prefer loath by a significant margin." :shock:

 

[GoesStation]

The Economist uses loth for the adjective and loath for the verb. This confused me for some time when I started reading the journal (which they persist in calling a "newspaper") because in American English, loath is the adjective. We — or, in my observations, the small minority of us aware of the distinction — spell the verb loathe.

I like the loathe spelling, which gives a hint that the /th/ is voiced. Therefore, the next time I invent the English language, I'm going to decree that these words be spelled loth and loathe. In the meantime, I adhere to the American spellings.

 

[emsr2d2]

Using "loth" for the adjective was drummed into me as a child. I don't think this was because of the confusion between "loth" and "loath" (both adjectives). I think it was because of the number of people who incorrectly use "loathe" as the adjective.

 

[jutfrank]

It's OK to be "loth". But remember, "Loth is a variant of loath and serves no purpose of its own. It is most common in U.K. English, though even U.K. writers prefer loath by a significant margin." :shock:

That's not right. We normally write it as loth. I don't think I've ever seen it spelled with an A.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wish I had added a comment to my original reply. I, too, couldn't work out why you would use complete sentences in 3-6, but fail to do so in 1 and 2. What exactly was the exercise you were doing?

 

[Rachel Adams]

I wish I had added a comment to my original reply. I, too, couldn't work out why you would use complete sentences in 3-6, but fail to do so in 1 and 2. What exactly was the exercise you were doing?

It was not an exercise. I was only asking about the cotrect use of the listed words. That 'ice scaters' are used to refer to people but 'ice skates' are what we put on to ice skate. That's why I wrote explanations and in some places examples.

 

[Tdol]

Can we calm things down a bit?

 

[emsr2d2]

It was not an exercise. I was only asking about the [STRIKE]cotrect[/STRIKE] correct use of the listed words. [STRIKE]That[/STRIKE] For example, 'ice skaters' [STRIKE]are[/STRIKE] is used to refer to people but 'ice skates' are what we put on to ice skate. That's why I wrote explanations and, in some places, examples.

OK, but didn't looking up "ice skate", "ice skater" etc in a dictionary give you the answers you needed? I wouldn't really refer to what you used as "word combinations". For example, I can't deny that "ice skate" is a combination of two words but it's simply a verb that happens to be made up of two words.