Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[susan_wu]

hello, i want to express that a boy is loved with extremly standard, i find 3 words and i can't decide which one is appropriate.

1. The boy is spoiled by his dad very much.

2. how his dad indulged in him!

3. how his dad pampered him!

what is the difference of the three words while they express this mean: spile, indulge, pamper

Thanks a lot for ur help!

[bud]

To my mind, they are all fairly similar ways to express the same thought.

BTW:

1. This is correct, but "very much" would more likely be placed after "spoiled," or sometimes even before "spoiled."

2. When someone "indulges IN" something, they are pampering themselves. "He indulges in video games so much that he never gets his homework done..." So to express you thought, you wouldn't use "in." You'd say "How his Dad indulged him!"

3. Correct!.. 2@ and 3 are exclamations, so 1 as an exclamation would be "How his Dad spoiled him!"

Good luck.

[sunking814]

Susan,
Remember that "spoiled" can have a negative connotation. Here in the US, we might say "That boy's Daddy spoiled him rotten", an obvious reference to rotten, or "spoiled" fruit. This statement would infer that the Dad gave the boy everything he wanted, such that now the boy EXPECTS to ALWAYS get everything he wants. In a just world, and older boy would punch this spoiled boy in the nose, to teach him some humility! HAHA. But that doesn't always happen!

"Pampered" and "indulge" COULD have a neagative connotation, but not always...."the mother pampered her baby, who grew up healty and loved"
or "I decided to indulge and take my wife to a fancy restaurant, even though we could barely afford the expense". You see these word can have "positive connotations.

[susan_wu]

hello, bud and sunking814,

Thank you very much for your help!

Actually, i used the word "spoil" in one of my letter to express my dad's love for me, (i just studied it from a novel) however, my friend corrected it with "indulge" and "pamper". I couldn't find the difference from dictionary.

Fortunately, i also have such friends as you!

The hearitest wishes to you!

[sunking814]

Susan_wu
How very kind of you!

Oh, I DID neglect to mention that pamper and indulge CAN have a negative connotation, to...just depends how you use it.

"They pampered that little boy so much that now he's nothing but a spoiled brat!" haha

"The old man indulged in too much wine"

Hope that help some, too.

Have a great day!

[bud]

Thanks, Susan. Glad to be of help.

Thanks also to Sunking814 for his insights.

[advoca]

Let�s deal with �pamper� first.

If you pamper someone, you make them feel comfortable by doing things for them or giving them expensive or luxurious things, sometimes in a way which has a bad effect on their character.

Now let�s look at �spoil� and �indulge.�

If you spoil children, you give them everything they want or ask for. This is considered to have a bad effect on a child's character.

If you indulge someone, you let them have or do what they want, even if this is not good for them.

Notice that "spoil" and "indulge" are almost identical in meaning. However, it is usual to use the word �spoil� when you give children what they ask for, and to use �indulge� when you do the same to adults. But the rule is not hard and fast. �Spoil� and �indulge� are for all practical purposes the same.