Difference between match and suit

[Viviana]

English Synonym, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #63 "Synonyms for adapt", question 3

I like this coat very much because it ......... my shoes, they are the same colour.

(a) fits
(b) matches
(c) suits
(d) corresponds

English Synonym, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #63 "Synonyms for adapt", answer 3

I like this coat very much because it matches my shoes, they are the same colour.

Correct answer: (b) matches

Your answer was: incorrect
I like this coat very much because it suits my shoes, they are the same colour.
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What is the difference between match and suit?

Viviana

[Daniela]

Dear Viviana,
If something matches something it means that it corresponds to it. For example, if the coat matches the shoes (in this example) they are probably of the same colour and they go together very well. You can also be a match with a person, meaning that you make a very good couple together. If you want to match things/ people, you always need a pair/ a couple/ two things.
Suit is more like fit, meeting certain requirements. For example, if something suits you, it means that it satisfies you, it is according to your plans and ideas. If you arrange to see someone, you can ask “Does 5 o’clock suit you?” which means “Is 5 o’clock ok with you, is it according to your plan?”
Daniela
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[Tom]

I

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

You seem to have taken on the role of "punctuation police". ;) I would agree with you, though, that a semicolon or an m-dash would be better in this sentence.

Amy
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[Salibali]

daniela,

as you told us, "If something matches something it means that it corresponds to it", so in this sentence we can use as "matches" as "corresponds" write?

[Alan]

Hi,

I think you mean 'right?'. 'Match' as a verb suggests that something is the right thing to go with another. If you paint something and later you want to paint part of it again, you need to find the right colour - the same as the original one because you want to make sure it matches.

Alan
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[Salibali]

thanks Alan,

I think I couldn`t ask you the right question.

ESL/EFL Test #63 "Synonyms for adapt", question 3

I like this coat very much because it ......... my shoes, they are the same colour.

(a) fits
(b) matches
(c) suits
(d) corresponds

English Synonym, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #63 "Synonyms for adapt", answer 3

I like this coat very much because it matches my shoes, they are the same colour.

Correct answer: (b) matches

Your answer was: incorrect
I like this coat very much because it suits my shoes, they are the same colour.

in this example, daniela told us: "If something matches something it means that it corresponds to it" so correct answer is "matches". so I was wonder if I can use "correspond" instead of "matches"?

Is it understandable what I asked?

Sorry for my english :)

[Alan]

Hi,

Thanks for your explanation. 'Correspond' is a simile but you have to use it in a particular sense. It suggests that two things have a close similarity as in: the signature on this letter corresponds to the signature on the cheque.

Alan
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[Salibali]

Alan,

As I guess "matches" we mostly use when two things look well together. correspond" means that two things are similar.

[Lily Alex]

Could you explain the answer one more time, please? If the coat ....the shoes, it is supposed that the are of the same color or style. That means that the answer would be "match" rather than "suit". ?

[Beeesneees]

That is correct, Lily Alex.
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