Conduct vs. guide

[Angelika]

Test No. incompl/inter-17 "Eating Out", question 8

The place was so full of people and tables that the waiter had to ......... us through the crowds to our table.

(a) show
(b) guide
(c) conduct
(d) enable

Test No. incompl/inter-17 "Eating Out", answer 8

The place was so full of people and tables that the waiter had to guide us through the crowds to our table.

Correct answer: (b) guide

Your answer was: correct
_________________________

Hello,
please, can you explain the difference between conduct and guide?

[Alan]

Hi Angelika,

The difference is that guide here in this sentence suggests you are helping someone find their way. Conduct suggests leading in a formal way as in being at the front/head of a procession. It can also mean carry out/complete as in conduct a survey/an investigation.

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

[Guest]

Dear Sir,

Would you please tell me why SHOW can not be used here?

Thanks in advance

enlearnercn

[Anda]

Hi Alan!
Plase put some light on this choice. I am familiar with the expression "Let me show you to your table". So why, in this case, is it guide instead of show?
Thank you

[Alan]

Hi anda,

The complete sentence reads:

The place was so full of people and tables that the waiter had to guide us through the crowds to our table., which is different from simply saying: show us to our table. The main verb in the sentence is guide - in other words help us find our way through. The end result to our table refers to the guiding and not to the showing.
Hope this sheds a bit more light.
Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Word Story: Weather