Formality or informality

[Rich7]

Test No. incompl/advan-8 "Business", question 4

Thirty years ago this kind of formality would not have been ..........

(a) withheld
(b) endured
(c) suffered
(d) tolerated

Test No. incompl/advan-8 "Business", answer 4

Thirty years ago this kind of formality would not have been tolerated.

Correct answer: (d) tolerated

Your answer was: correct
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should it be informality here?

[Alan]

Well done again!

Thank you
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Book Expressions

[doanngockhanh]

Dear Sir,
Could you please explain more about the difference between "tolerate", "endure", "suffer"? I think they're almost the same meaning.
Thank you very much and Best regards

[Loverose394]

Dear Mr Alan,
I have a question which is the same as Doanngockhanh's. Could you explain to me? i'm confusing about it.
Thanks in advance,

[Alan]

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Hi Loverose,

'Tolerate' has the sense of put up with something - in other words let it happen without complaining. It is often used with the negative;

The teacher refused to tolerate bad behaviour in the class and those who behaved badly were punished.

'Endure' also suggests put up with but is used for something that lasts a long time as in:

The people in that country had to endure years of war before peace finally arrived.

'Suffer' has the same idea again but this time it is usually associated with pain and hardships as in:

She suffered extreme pain during her illness until a cure was found.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Present Simple