eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 2nd, 2008, 08:53 am
Beatrix's Avatar
eslHQ Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 14th, 2008
Location: China
Posts: 373
Beatrix is on a distinguished road
Default to pollute the air or to contaminate the air?

those two examples are offered in Headway Upper-Intermediate and only 'to pollute' is accepted as the correct one. But why can't we use 'contaminate' as well? don't they have nearly the same meaning? thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 2nd, 2008, 09:58 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: to pollute the air or to contaminate the air?

You can say it - just try Googling it. But it has a slightly different meaning. Contaminate is likely to be used when there is a specific substance or case involved - I found for example : Oil spills can contaminate indoor air and Carpets and soft vinyl floor coverings can contribute to the levels of VOCs that can contaminate your indoor air.
Pollute can be more general - just a load of unspecified muck that we breathe in every day with long-term rather than short term effects and which no-one takes specific responsibility for. But I think contaminate would be used when the degree of damage was higher and either intentional or due to a specific case of negligence - eg a nuclear explosion would contaminate the air, not pollute it. This can of course be subjective - if I were a motorist I might just shrug my shoulders and accept that traffic fumes pollute the air. As a cyclist I feel strongly that motorists contaminate it!
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 2nd, 2008, 01:29 pm
Beatrix's Avatar
eslHQ Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 14th, 2008
Location: China
Posts: 373
Beatrix is on a distinguished road
Default Re: to pollute the air or to contaminate the air?

thanks susan!
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
Something HOT & APPEALING JOBS -- I`ve got everythig that you want !! 0
air travel vocabulary 0
Six Solid ASAP positions-great staffs, block shift, air ticket upfront 0
Teach in Korea Now!! Great Job Offers!! 0
Transportation - air, land, sea 0

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
Something HOT & APPEALING JOBS -- I`ve got everythig that you want !! 0
air travel vocabulary 0
Six Solid ASAP positions-great staffs, block shift, air ticket upfront 0
Teach in Korea Now!! Great Job Offers!! 0
Transportation - air, land, sea 0


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:17 am.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2