Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

His house was spotless, three small rooms with a concrete floor, wooden walls, a thin roof, and a gas stove on which he immediately began to boil bottled water for coffee.
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What do you mean by "spotless" in the sentence above?

(1) free from any spot, stain, etc.; immaculately clean: a spotless kitchen.
(2) irreproachable; pure; undefiled: a spotless reputation.

Thank you in advance.

[Mister Micawber]

.
The sentence speaks of a house-- which definition applies?
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[learner12]

Dear Mister Micawber:

Thank you for your quick replies.

What does "spotless" mean?

(1) free from any spot
(2) irreproachable

I would like to know:

Is this house clean?
or
Is this house all right?

Thank you again for your help.

[Mister Micawber]

.
I insist that you use some common sense in determining which definitions you select from a dictionary-- because this is a problem that will confront you throughout your language studies.

Read the two definitions carefully:

(1) free from any spot, stain, etc.; immaculately clean: a spotless kitchen.
(2) irreproachable; pure; undefiled: a spotless reputation.

Which one would apply to a house?
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[learner12]

Dear Mister Micawber:

Thank you again for your quick replies.

(1) is the answer.

Take care and have a nice day!!