Injured vs. serious

[Christina328]

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #7 "Her latest book", question 4

This was a very bad railway accident because two trains ran into each other but fortunately nobody was seriously wounded.

(a) bad
(b) accident
(c) each other
(d) wounded

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #7 "Her latest book", answer 4

This was a very bad railway accident because two trains ran into each other but fortunately nobody was seriously injured.

Correct entry: injured
The error was: (d) wounded

You have not found the error.
This was a very serious railway accident because two trains ran into each other but fortunately nobody was seriously wounded.
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Dear Sir

why not "injured" here?

thanks a lot in advance

Christina's son

[Yankee]

Hi Christina's son

The word "wounded" is used for a specific type of injury. It is used when the skin has been pierced. A "wound" could come from a bullet, an arrow, a dog-bite, etc. If a person is wounded, I would also expect to see blood.

The word "injured" is more general.

Does that help?

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English