previous / next

place ~ room

Though both these words mean almost the same in some contexts, they are not interchangeable.  The best way to get to know them and their different meanings is to consult a good dictionary.  We are bound to make the mistake of using ‘place’ instead of “room” in some contexts.

Therefore, here we deal with the commonest usage of these two words to have some idea how they are used in some special as well as ordinary situations.

“Place”, as a noun, is ‘an open area or a spot or position on a larger surface; a particular part of an area’; and as a verb, it means ‘to keep something or someone in a particular place or position’,

e.g.

This is the place where the motor accident took place last night.

A young clerk was placed in charge of the personnel department and this development increased dissent from the entire staff.

____________________

“Room”, as a noun, is ‘an enclosed place or space with walls and ceiling in a building; an empty part of something that can be used or filled; ‘elbow room’ = some space to move freely; ‘leg room’ = some space to stretch one’s legs while in sitting position’; as a verb, it means ‘to rent or find a room or to share a room with someone’,

e.g.

We live in an apartment with three rooms; one sitting-room, one bed-room, with a bath-room attached, of course, and a dining-room.

I’ve booked a double room for two of us at the Taj.

{‘Taj’ here = an international chain of hotels]

Special usage:

Do you have any room for me in your car?   [i.e. is there enough space for me to sit and go with you in your car --- using ‘place’ is not accepted]

My suitcase is full’; there isn’t any more room in it to keep even my small diary.

The buffet hall was so crowded that there wasn’t any elbow room at all; we ate our dinner in the veranda!

Common Errors:

1.

She wished she had had enough place in her wardrobe for all her clothes.   [wrong]

She wished she had had enough room in her wardrobe for all her clothes.   [right]

2.

In some schools, the class rooms are so crowded that there is no place to keep students’ large, heavy school bags.  [wrong]

In some schools, the class rooms are so crowded that there is no room to keep students’ large, heavy school bags.  [right]

3.

He left his books in his room but they were not in that place when he came back for them a little later.  [wrong]

He left his books in his room but they were not there when he came back for them a little later.    [right]

4.

The seating arrangement at the meeting was so bad that there is no place to stretch one’s legs.   [wrong]

The seating arrangement at the meeting was so bad that there isn’t enough leg room.    [right]

<<< Back to List P / Next plant ~ plant >>>

<<< Back to main page