[Vocabulary] Prolong vs extend???

[Christin93]

What is the difference between prolong and extend?
(If you could check... thank you)
Extend a visit
Extend a contact
Prolong sb's life
Extend a situation
Prolong a farewell
Extend a builing
Prolong a deadline
Expand a conversation

 

[BobK]

Not a lot, when you are referring to time. You can equally well use 'prolong a visit' and 'extend a visit' - the main difference is in the implication that the visit was (or was felt to be) long, if you use 'prolong':

Mother-in-law to daughter: 'Would you mind if I extended my visit for another day or two?
But
Husband to wife: Do you mean that old bat is going to prolong her stay?

But when you're talking about space, use 'extend': you 'extend a building'.

b

 

[Christin93]

what about the others have i used them right?

 

[BobK]

What is the difference between prolong and extend?
(If you could check... thank you)
Extend a visit :tick: Either - see my last.
Extend a contact :tick:
Prolong sb's life :tick: 'Extend' would work as well - with the implication I've already mentioned.
Extend a situation :?: Never met this; 'prolong' would work.
Prolong a farewell :tick: 'Extend' would be OK too. If it was an unwelcome experience, you might use 'drag out'.
Extend a building:tick: See my last.
Prolong a deadline :?: Sounds very odd. Use 'extend', or - informally - 'push out/back'
Expand a conversation

I'm not sure what the last is doing. Either would do. But 'expand' in that context means 'increase the scope of', or just 'broaden'.

b