Thread: to loose -- an error or what?

Спасибо. Как я понял - "если очень хочется, то можно (использовать глагол to loose)".

As we are on a topic of controversial verbs, I have just remembered another one - to contact. I was reading some fiction and came across this:

"...I went out to Richdale and made inquiries. I contacted a young woman - as you know, I am especially effective with young women-"
"Contact is not a verb and I said be brief."
"Yes, sir. The last time you told me that I looked it up in the dictionary and I certainly don't want to contradict you but it says contact is a verb. Transitive or intransitive."
"Contact is not a verb under this roof."

This was written about half a century ago. How about it now? Is it generally accepted yet?

Yes, now you can say "to contact" as much as you want!!!

So, I'm allowed to contact young women after all. Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by E-learner

So, I'm allowed to contact young women after all. Thanks!!!

Well, in one sense at least. The other sense of the word might get you in quite a bit of trouble...

BREATH and BREATHE are not completely different, they are only 50% different.

The first two consonants /b/ and /r/ are the same, the next vowel is different, and the final consonant is different. two are the same - two differ, that makes 50% equivalency, right? =:^0

Actually there is a verb to loose in english. It's just rarely used.

It's used like: "I loose the ox from the cage."

to loose = освобождать

Thanks for clearing that up!

Originally Posted by youngmatthias

It's used like: "I loose the ox from the cage."

Actually, I don't think it is. I think you either need to say "loosed" or "am loosing" the ox. "Loose" doesn't work.

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Originally Posted by youngmatthias

It's used like: "I loose the ox from the cage."

Actually, I don't think it is. I think you either need to say "loosed" or "am loosing" the ox. "Loose" doesn't work.

Maybe youngmatthias meant

"I loose the ox from the cage every day at 6:00 am."

Originally Posted by Vadim84

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Originally Posted by youngmatthias

It's used like: "I loose the ox from the cage."

Actually, I don't think it is. I think you either need to say "loosed" or "am loosing" the ox. "Loose" doesn't work.

Maybe youngmatthias meant

"I loose the ox from the cage every day at 6:00 am."

Maybe, but I doubt it. I think it's more likely he was just in a hurry.

Actually, I was just in a hurry. Thanks. I did mean am loosing. The verb is to loose, but it's only used in the progressive sense.

I shall loose the ox from the cage.