Difference between shut and close

[Phuong Lam]

Test No. incompl/inter-10 "Close/Shut", question 1

In the interest of safety the main valve on the machine had to be ......... off.

(a) shutting
(b) closing
(c) closed
(d) shut

Test No. incompl/inter-10 "Close/Shut", answer 1

In the interest of safety the main valve on the machine had to be shut off.

Correct answer: (d) shut

Your answer was: correct
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Hello,
Could you show me the difference between shut and close? (shut vs. close)

[Alan]

A full answer to this question would take a very long time, I'm afraid. There are so many uses of both verbs. They mean very much the same in some cases as in Shut the door and Close the door. The general difference is that shut has a more mechanical sense and close a manual sense. In the sentence in the test I've chosen shut to mean a precise/mechanical/exact movement.
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[Kelly]

Hi Alan
Hm...perhaps my Enlgish level is still low, however can u tell me what does the Mechanical sense and Manual sense?

Thanks