Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
excitement; great interest
slogan
background
property
enthusiasm
TOEIC practice test: Online word games: Free Nouns Quiz Answer
Dictionaries   TOEIC   TOEFL   GMAT   SAT   GRE   MCAT   PCAT   ASVAB   Interviews
Tests   Grammar   Articles   Stories   Shop   Services   English for winners   Community
Home   Top 100   Start your FREE email English course now!   Audio Lessons   Jobs
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Does a head burst or break?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Good Morning (I'm looking for a term means that when an employee has no fear...) | Use of 'coy'
Message Author
Does a head burst or break? Sun Mar 30, 2008 20:38 pm  Does a head burst or break?		  
Hi

Could you please tell me if a flying stone bursts a child's head or breaks--I mean, which word should I use? Which ones do you find correct and natural?

Quote:
1- He swiped his stick breaking the child's head.
2- He swiped his stick bursting the child's head.

Quote:
3- He had his head burst in the fight.
4- He had his head broken in the fight.

Quote:
5- The stone burst open his head.

Many thanks

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2037
Does a head burst or break? Sun Mar 30, 2008 20:58 pm  Does a head burst or break?		  
Tom wrote:
Quote:
1- He swung his stick breaking the child's head.
No, it would be more typical to say 'breaking the child's skull'.
2- He swiped his stick bursting the child's head. 'Swiped' is not a good word to use -- especially in combination with 'burst'. Using the word 'burst' sounds as though something flew explosively out of the child's head (the child's brains, for example). Something like that would also require explosive force -- which the word 'swipe' doesn't really convey.

Quote:
3- He had his head burst in the fight. His skull was fractured/broken...
4- He had his head broken in the fight. (see 3)

Quote:
5- The stone burst open his head.
Are you referring only to skin rather than bone?


_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!This newsletter tells you all about English! Subscribe to free email English courseLearn all about English adverbs in this amusing story
Does a head burst or break? Sun Mar 30, 2008 21:05 pm  Does a head burst or break?		  
Quote:
Are you referring only to skin rather than bone? YES

If a child throws a small stone at me which hits me on the forehead causing the skin to break open (with a loss of blood), how should I describe this?
Quote:
The stone ________ my forehead.

When police carry? a baton charge, many people have their heads __________?

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2037
Does a head burst or break? Sun Mar 30, 2008 21:34 pm  Does a head burst or break?		  
Does a head burst or break?

A head would break, not burst.

A blood vessel would burst.

Englishmajor
Englishmajor
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 30 Mar 2008
Posts: 10
Does a head burst or break? Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:34 am  Does a head burst or break?		  
I would say fractured his skull or the stone broke his skull, if what you are describing is internal. Forehead is external and head sounds external so I would say he had his head split open or cut. To have your head broken or bashed in sounds more like idioms (as in "I'm going to break/bash in some heads") and fractured sounds more technical, although it is very common. -Belles
Belles1654
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Posts: 25
Display posts from previous:   
Good Morning (I'm looking for a term means that when an employee has no fear...) | Use of 'coy'
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Does a head burst or break? All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
make chores v.s. do chores • Verb- some confusion. • Vocabulary: some examples on Inveterate? • There seem v.s. There seems • Supply or provide? • gratitude vs gratefulness! • Why do You say "dear" • Can we just play, please? • the poll began to reveal its slant • to be a pawn for somebody? • a stacked jury? • textual commentry • Which is correct? (The whistle signaled the end of the first half. The match...) • Using of preposition: you are all over the world through your voice • Line and margin • We and us together? • 'with second to spare'what does it means? • A doubt regarding the usage of in/at • Does a head burst or break?

Discover English-test.net
Difference between say and tell • In response, in return, in answer • New kind of creature? • 'having entered' vs 'to have entered' • SAT prep test: Word Vocabulary Games: Noun Adjective Test • SAT vocab test: Free word games: Online Noun Adjective Game • Define pyromania, preference, refinery, dispensation, ampere, hernia, resistive • Definition of single, easy, loud, social, fair, awake, average, complex, worse, last • Free ESL Quiz Online: From Shakespeare originally • Language lesson with ends, lesson, fruitcake, nuts: English Slang Idioms (141)

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Provided by phpBB ©2001-2008 phpBB Group
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail