We ------ some toothpaste on a toothbrush

[Tait-ka]

Yesterday I asked this thread

nurdle

Wiktionary: nurdle: A blob of toothpaste shaped like a wave, often depicted on toothpaste packaging. (Noun definition #3 https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nurdle) Please look at the amount of the toothpaste on a toothbrush in the picture above. Is that is what the Wiktionary talking about? Do you...

www.usingenglish.com

I have made a sentence. Please tell me which verb or verbs you use. Apply, stick or put?

We apply/stick/put some toothpaste on a toothbrush to brush our teeth.

I think any of the three can be used.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yesterday I asked this question in a thread:

nurdle

Wiktionary: nurdle: A blob of toothpaste shaped like a wave, often depicted on toothpaste packaging. (Noun definition #3 https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nurdle) Please look at the amount of the toothpaste on a toothbrush in the picture above. Is that is what the Wiktionary talking about? Do you...

www.usingenglish.com

I have made written a sentence. Please tell me which verb or verbs you use - "apply", "stick" or "put".

We apply/stick/put some toothpaste on a toothbrush to brush our teeth.

I think any of the three can be used.

I squeeze toothpaste onto my toothbrush. If I wasn't using toothpaste out of a tube but, say, out of a glass jar (very common these days), I'd use "apply".

 

[jutfrank]

apply something to something
put something on something

 

[Tait-ka]

If I wasn't using toothpaste out of a tube but, say, out of a glass jar (very common these days), I'd use "apply".

First I thought that apply can be used. But now it has come to my mind that we use apply when the thing being applied does not fall from the surface on which we are applying that thing. For example we apply nail polish. But this is not true for toothpaste. It can fall when the surface of brush gets upside down.
So I am confused how you can say we can use apply.

 

[jutfrank]

First I thought that apply can be used.

It's a good verb to use when talking about toothpaste but it doesn't work in your sentence unless you change 'on' to 'to'.

But now it has come to my mind that we use apply when the thing being applied does not fall from the surface on which we are applying that thing.

Right, and that's why it's a suitable verb. Toothpaste doesn't fall off the toothbrush if you do it properly.

 

[emsr2d2]

At first, I thought that apply can could be used no full stop here but now it has come to my mind I realise/remember that we use apply when the thing being applied does not fall from the surface on to which we are applying that thing it.

Note my corrections above. Don't try to start a sentence with "but".

For example, we apply nail polish. But However, this is not true for of toothpaste. It can fall off when the surface of the brush gets turned upside down.

Note my corrections above. Don't try to start a sentence with "but".

So That's why I am confused as to how you can say we can use apply.

Don't start sentences with "so".

The reason we can use "apply" is that, in general, people don't turn their toothbrush upside down! Why would they, when they know it would make the toothpaste fall off?

 

[jutfrank]

I can't see how people are putting their toothpaste on in such a way that it doesn't stick to the brush.