Which would you use?
He shone the light into the forest.
He shined the light into the forest.
He shone the light into the forest.
He shined the light into the forest.
shone/shined
I prefer "shined", but it did take me a minute to make up my mind. I think I don't like "shone" mainly because it is a homonym of "shown".
Merriam-Webster notes that "shined" is the only possible form (for either the past or the past participle) when referring to polishing, as in "he shined his shoes".
- Kef
Merriam-Webster notes that "shined" is the only possible form (for either the past or the past participle) when referring to polishing, as in "he shined his shoes".
- Kef
In British English 'shone' can be used in both transitive and intransitive contexts, therefore both 'He shone the light into the forest' (transitive) and 'The sun shone' (intransitive) are perfectly fine and sound correct to me.
On the other hand, 'shined' would still be used with the meaning of 'making glossy or bright by polishing' (transitive), just as furrykef suggested.
On the other hand, 'shined' would still be used with the meaning of 'making glossy or bright by polishing' (transitive), just as furrykef suggested.
<<I prefer "shined", but it did take me a minute to make up my mind. I think I don't like "shone" mainly because it is a homonym of "shown".>>
Should we ban all homonyms?
Should we ban all homonyms?
<I think I don't like "shone" mainly because it is a homonym of "shown". >
Only in America.
Only in America.
<< Should we ban all homonyms? >>
No, but it can be ambiguous, especially as a past participle. The ambiguity seems gratuitous when there's also "shined".
- Kef
No, but it can be ambiguous, especially as a past participle. The ambiguity seems gratuitous when there's also "shined".
- Kef
Either one. And yes, I would also have shone and shown as complete homonyms. Saying it as "shon" (like Sean) just sounds odd to me (and defeats the purpose of the silent E at the end, which usually signifies that the preceding vowel is long -- not always, of course, but usually).
Of course, I have to admit doing the same thing with "gone"....;P
Of course, I have to admit doing the same thing with "gone"....;P
<No, but it can be ambiguous, especially as a past participle. The ambiguity seems gratuitous when there's also "shined". >
Could you give us some examples of when it can be ambiguous?
And what should we do about these?
He walked up and down the isle/aisle.
Speaking aloud/allowed.
Watch out for the buoys/boys if you go swimming.
There was a cue/queue at the pool table.
Etc.
Could you give us some examples of when it can be ambiguous?
And what should we do about these?
He walked up and down the isle/aisle.
Speaking aloud/allowed.
Watch out for the buoys/boys if you go swimming.
There was a cue/queue at the pool table.
Etc.
<(and defeats the purpose of the silent E at the end, which usually signifies that the preceding vowel is long -- not always, of course, but usually). >
Really? Can you show me a lot of words which do that?
Really? Can you show me a lot of words which do that?
<Really? Can you show me a lot of words which do that?>
Try these, Divvy:
1
ONE
2
DONE
3
GONE
4
SOMEONE
5
ANYONE
6
EVERYONE
7
ALONE
8
NONE
9
TELEPHONE
10
STONE
11
NO ONE
12
PHONE
13
TONE
14
ZONE
15
BONE
16
NO-ONE
17
OZONE
18
LET ALONE
19
THRONE
20
LONE
21
LIMESTONE
22
PRONE
23
SHONE
24
MICROPHONE
25
UNDERGONE
26
TWENTY-ONE
27
HORMONE
28
CONE
29
MAIDSTONE
30
BACKBONE
Try these, Divvy:
1
ONE
2
DONE
3
GONE
4
SOMEONE
5
ANYONE
6
EVERYONE
7
ALONE
8
NONE
9
TELEPHONE
10
STONE
11
NO ONE
12
PHONE
13
TONE
14
ZONE
15
BONE
16
NO-ONE
17
OZONE
18
LET ALONE
19
THRONE
20
LONE
21
LIMESTONE
22
PRONE
23
SHONE
24
MICROPHONE
25
UNDERGONE
26
TWENTY-ONE
27
HORMONE
28
CONE
29
MAIDSTONE
30
BACKBONE
<< Could you give us some examples of when it can be ambiguous? >>
I can't right now because I'm feeling sick and must go to bed. (I'm making this post backwards... this part at the top is actually the last thing that I wrote.) Don't let me forget.
<< And what should we do about these?
He walked up and down the isle/aisle.
Speaking aloud/allowed.
Watch out for the buoys/boys if you go swimming.
There was a cue/queue at the pool table. >>
Those words don't have easy alternatives akin to using "shined" instead of "shone".
<<<< (and defeats the purpose of the silent E at the end, which usually signifies that the preceding vowel is long -- not always, of course, but usually). >>>>
<< Really? Can you show me a lot of words which do that? >>
Compare:
* fat vs. fate
* pat vs. pate
* mat vs. mate
* pet vs. Pete
* bit vs. bite
* sit vs. site
* strip vs. stripe
* mop vs. mope
* hop vs. hope
* con vs. cone
And so on...
Of course, there are exceptions, like "don" vs. "done", "hug" vs. "huge", as well as word pairs that indicate the difference in different ways, such as "dead" vs. "deed"...
- Kef
I can't right now because I'm feeling sick and must go to bed. (I'm making this post backwards... this part at the top is actually the last thing that I wrote.) Don't let me forget.
<< And what should we do about these?
He walked up and down the isle/aisle.
Speaking aloud/allowed.
Watch out for the buoys/boys if you go swimming.
There was a cue/queue at the pool table. >>
Those words don't have easy alternatives akin to using "shined" instead of "shone".
<<<< (and defeats the purpose of the silent E at the end, which usually signifies that the preceding vowel is long -- not always, of course, but usually). >>>>
<< Really? Can you show me a lot of words which do that? >>
Compare:
* fat vs. fate
* pat vs. pate
* mat vs. mate
* pet vs. Pete
* bit vs. bite
* sit vs. site
* strip vs. stripe
* mop vs. mope
* hop vs. hope
* con vs. cone
And so on...
Of course, there are exceptions, like "don" vs. "done", "hug" vs. "huge", as well as word pairs that indicate the difference in different ways, such as "dead" vs. "deed"...
- Kef
<Those words don't have easy alternatives akin to using "shined" instead of "shone". >
His shoes shined, he went for a walk.
His shoes shined, he went for a walk.
<His shoes shined, he went for a walk.>
"shined" has to be the past participle of "shine" in this sentence because "his shoes shined" can't be an independent clause because commas alone can't separate independent clauses. If you replaced the comma with a semicolon, then "shined" would have to be the past tense of "shine" because "his shoes shined" would be an independent clause.
"shined" has to be the past participle of "shine" in this sentence because "his shoes shined" can't be an independent clause because commas alone can't separate independent clauses. If you replaced the comma with a semicolon, then "shined" would have to be the past tense of "shine" because "his shoes shined" would be an independent clause.