Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

All the rooms of this building are free (of/ from) outside sound.


(Question) The answer, according to my textbook, is 'from.' But I don't understand why it is. To me both sound correct. Tell me if there is any difference b/w them?


Satoru

Tochigi, Japan

[lotus]

Hi Satoru,

I would re-write the sentence as:
"All the rooms in this building are soundproof."

Back to your sentence:

All the rooms [in] this building are free (of/ from) outside sound.

When we are free of something, we are not within the realm of control of that something else.
"My office is free of noise."
Noise does not exist in my office to bother me.

When we are free from something, we are released from the realm of control from that something else.
"My office is free from noise."
Noise cannot get into my office to bother me.

A subtle difference. The first is more passive. The second more active.

If you want to express that the ambience of the room is very quiet, we say "free of" outside noise.

If you want to express that the rooms in the building has windows which actively prevent sound from coming in, we say "free from" outside noise.

Both are correct, depending what you want to express.
The second may be more common.

"All the rooms in this building are free from outside noise."


--lotus

[James.E]

My understanding is "be free of" shares the meaning with "to get rid of", while "be free from" means get free from sth.

I'm not sure whether it is right, waiting for comment.
_________________
Marx says that a foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of life.

[lotus]

Hi,

"Be free of" can be the same as "be rid of."

After the dog wore a collar, he was "free of" fleas.
After the dog wore a collar, he was "rid of" fleas.

It wouldn't make sense with, he was "get rid of" fleas.
"Get rid of" is an active phrase.
He wanted to get rid of the fleas.

"Be free from" is not the same as "get free from."

He wanted to be free from a hurtful relationship.
Here, he doesn't want to be part of a bad relationship.

He wanted to get free from a hurtful relationship.
Here, he wants to get away from an existing bad relationship.

If you are specific about what you're being free from, they can be similar.

He wanted to be free from "the" hurtful relationship.
He wanted to get free from "the" hurtful relationship.

Still, the second one is more active and conveys a stronger willingness to act to break free from the bad relationship.


--lotus

[James.E]

Thank you lotus.
I have caught the difference between "be ..." and "get ...", also "free of" and "free from"
_________________
Marx says that a foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of life.