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control/check

 
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klafterreith



Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 429

PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:18 am    Post subject: control/check Reply with quote

Would a native accept `control�in this context? Please comment:

The police controlled where the prisoner was.
or must it be:

The police checked where the prisoner was.


The social worker controlled if he attended the course.
The social worker checked if he attended the course.


Please comment on the use of `control/check�

peace
klaf
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eleruen



Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2006 4:55 am    Post subject: check and control Reply with quote

do you want American or British English?

I can give you an answer for British English, but not American. (the two meanings are very different- check is 'make sure' only, but in American English it can mean 'control').

Louise
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LucentShade



Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 542
Location: Nebraska, USA

PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2006 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

For the first sentence, "control" might be acceptable, but it means that the police decided where the prisoner should be and forced him to go there. If you say "check," it means that the police looked (quickly) to see where the prisoner was.

#2: "controlled" is not acceptable. There's no way that the social worker can control whether or not the man is the course.
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