questions
Hi, there

Please, could you help me with some question? Please.

1)What's the difference between "vacant" and "open", "free"

For example:
"This seat is open" or "This seat is vacant”
“There aren’t open tables. The restaurant is too busy” or “The aren’t vacant tables. The restaurant is too busy”?
"Let's wait for a table to open up/become vacant"?
What about a checkout that has no line. What would you call it?
Would you say any of these sentences as a native speaker?

2)What about the antonyms of/for(of or for???) open/vacant/ free table, etc? Occupied seat, table? Occupied "checkout"?

3)
Is there such an expression as "start off someone on something?

Like in these examples
"Parents must start their children off on the right path/way"?
(A teacher talking to their pupils): "I will start you off on this topic(subject) today and next class we will pick it up"?

Don't these sentences work? Are they odd to you? If not, what would you say?

Thank you very, very much for all!

Question

questions
Hi, there

Please, could you help me with some question? Please.

1)What's the difference between "vacant" and "open", "free"

For example:
"This seat is open" or "This seat is vacant”
“There aren’t open tables. The restaurant is too busy” or “The aren’t vacant tables. The restaurant is too busy”?
"Let's wait for a table to open up/become vacant"?
What about a checkout that has no line. What would you call it?
Would you say any of these sentences as a native speaker?

2)What about the antonyms of/for(of or for???) open/vacant/ free table, etc? Occupied seat, table? Occupied "checkout"?

3)
Is there such an expression as "start off someone on something?

Like in these examples
"Parents must start their children off on the right path/way"?
(A teacher talking to their pupils): "I will start you off on this topic(subject) today and next class we will pick it up"?

Don't these sentences work? Are they odd to you? If not, what would you say?

Thank you very, very much for all!

Answer

1) In all of your examples vacant, open, and free are synonyms. Vacant would be a more formal way to say it. As far as the checkout line, I would say open or free- again, vacant would be more formal. Otherwise your examples are good ones that a native speaker would use.

2) Antonyms for vacant/open ('of' is also correct and probably the most 'correct' word here, however in daily speech both are common)  Occupied is correct and the formal antonym of vacant.A less formal option is 'full' or 'busy'.

3) Yes, these sentences work. To 'start someone off' on something is a fairly common way to talk about the beginning of a thing.

Answers · 1

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