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Ask for help > ´to erupt ´ used for humans or not?
´to erupt ´ used for humans or not?
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sea camel
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´to erupt ´ used for humans or not?
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I ´m correcting exams at the moment and I see sentences as (They have to use the word ´to erupt ´ in a sentence.): When he heard that news he was so angry that he erupted OR I will erupt if you don ´t stop to be a nuisance.
Now, according to my dictionary (I get some nice examples but it ´s still not really clear to me, though) and my feeling, ´to erupt ´ is not used for humans. Or am I wrong... I am in doubt...
Kristien |
30 Mar 2009
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Zora
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You are correct Kristien - we do not really use "erupt" with people. We use "explode" instead.
He got so angry that he exploded.
or
I will explode if you keep saying that!
Hope that helps. 
Regards,
Linda
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30 Mar 2009
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sea camel
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Hi Linda!
That really helped. I notice so many mistakes today and this one really made me doubt.
Thanks a lot!
Kristien
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30 Mar 2009
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alien boy
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From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
1 if fighting, violence, noise etc erupts, it starts suddenly [= break out]:  Violence erupted after police shot a student during the demonstration. A political row erupted over the MP ´s comments. 2 if a volcano erupts, it explodes and sends smoke, fire, and rock into the sky 3 if a place or situation erupts, there is a sudden increase in activity or emotion erupt into They were angry to the point of erupting into riot. Their conversations often erupted into squabbles. 4 erupt into laughter/shouting etc
to suddenly start laughing, shouting etc:
He erupted into loud, desperate sobs. 5 if spots erupt on your body, they suddenly appear on your skin —eruption noun [uncountable and countable] a volcanic eruption the eruption of violence I have often heard & read ´erupt ´ used with people. Erupt implies a build up before a sudden outpouring. Explode doesn ´t necessarily mean there is a noticeable build up. It may be more British than North American, but I ´m not sure! From experience, I could not mark this one as incorrect. Cheers, AB
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30 Mar 2009
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sea camel
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Hi Alien Boy
Well, that was interesting too! Now, I think I ´ll mark it as OK when used in the correct context. Afterwards I will definitely talk to my pupils about this! I suppose what they meant was ´explode ´ so I have to make clear that they have to be careful in their use of ´erupt ´...
( I looked it up in my Longman contemporary dictionary and in the Oxford concise English dictionary. In both cases I didn ´t get the necessary info. Which is a pity...)
Thanks for your kind help! I really appreciate it!
Kristien |
30 Mar 2009
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alien boy
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My pleasure Kristien
With the examples given above the first one is correct:
When he heard that news he was so angry that he erupted
but the second should be ´I will erupt if you don ´t stop being a nuisance ´.
citing the reference I used the use of ´erupt ´ is totally appropriate for your students ´ use. It sounds like an unexpected use of vocabulary by your student. I ´d be explaining that either is correct, not that one is better than the other - English vernacular varies from place to place which is why native speakers can almost always say there is another way to say something - there ´s always ´more than one way to skin a cat ´ with the English language!
Good luck with your marking!
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30 Mar 2009
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sea camel
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Yes, I have so many (187) nice and clever pupils. They often surprise me... 
Well, I understand. It ´s a bit like the Dutch they speak here in Belgium and the Dutch they speak in the Netherlands.
Anyway I now notice I have to check on ´being ´ too.
Well, it is time to take a break... (4 p.m.)
Thanks for everything. I ´m so happy with this forum and the help I get!
Enjoy your Monday!
Happy Kristien
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30 Mar 2009
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Nebal
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Surely it ´s used for humans.
"erupt" means to emerge violently from restraint or limits; explode: My neighbor erupted in anger over the noise.
Your student is a good thinker. I wish mine would use such expressions. UHHHHHHHHHHH!!
Good luck with correction. It ´s the hardest part of our job, I think.
Nebal |
30 Mar 2009
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douglas
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Yes we use it for humans too. |
30 Mar 2009
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eng789
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Yes, it can be used for humans. |
30 Mar 2009
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