close vs shut

close vs shut
  As a verb, to shut can usually be replaced by to close.
  You can shut a door / window / suitcase, or you can close a door / window /suitcase.
  • The shops shut / close at 8 pm.
  • Mr Bean couldn't shut / close the suitcase.
  I say "usually" because if you're "shut out", it means you can't get in.
  If you use 'close' when you conclude something, you can't replace it with 'shut'.
  • We shall close the meeting at 4pm.
  The past tense of shut is shut, but the past tense of close is closed.
  Don't confuse the adjective closed with the past tense, closed: When someone shuts / closes a door, it becomes a closed door.
  In bad weather we don't shut airports or roads, we close them.
  You should close your mouth when you're eating, but if someone tells you to shut your mouth, you had better stop talking.
  As a person, if you shut up, you stop talking.
  As a business, if you close down, you stop trading.
  Case closed.
  ♦ !Note - Don't confuse the adjective close (as in near) and the verb "to close".

English dictionary of common mistakes and confusing words. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • close - closed - shut — If you close something such as a door, you move it so that it covers or fills a hole or gap. He opened the door and closed it behind him. You can also say that you shut something such as a door. There is no difference in meaning. The past tense… …   Useful english dictionary

  • close (or shut) one's eyes to — refuse to acknowledge (something unpleasant). → eye …   English new terms dictionary

  • close vs shut —   As a verb, to shut can usually be replaced by to close.   You can shut a door / window / suitcase, or you can close a door / window /suitcase.   • The shops shut / close at 8 pm.   • Mr Bean couldn t shut / close the suitcase.   I say usually… …   English dictionary of common mistakes and confusing words

  • shut — /shut/, v., shut, shutting, adj., n. v.t. 1. to put (a door, cover, etc.) in position to close or obstruct. 2. to close the doors of (often fol. by up): to shut up a shop for the night. 3. to close (something) by bringing together or folding its… …   Universalium

  • shut — [ʆʌt] verb shut PTandPP shutting PRESPART [intransitive, transitive] 1. also shut down COMMERCE if a company, factory etc shuts or is shut, it stops operating permanently; =close down …   Financial and business terms

  • close — Ⅰ. close [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) only a short distance away or apart in space or time. 2) (of a connection or resemblance) strong. 3) denoting someone who is part of a person s immediate family. 4) (of a relationship or the people conducting it) very… …   English terms dictionary

  • close down — or[shut down] {v.} To stop all working, as in a factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in. * /The factory closed down for Christmas./ * /The company shut down the condom plant for Easter./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • close down — or[shut down] {v.} To stop all working, as in a factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in. * /The factory closed down for Christmas./ * /The company shut down the condom plant for Easter./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • shut down — See: CLOSE DOWN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • shut down — See: CLOSE DOWN …   Dictionary of American idioms

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