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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004Basic doubt : Are adjectives "big" and "large" equivalent?
Hello all: I would like to ask a native speaker whether or not adjectives "big" and "large" are equivalent, i.e.: I have a large house or I have a big house (I think the first sentence would be better). This decision will make a big impact on my company's bussiness (I think that in this case "large" would be wrong). I think "large" should be used to describe physical size, and "big" is rather abstract . Am I right? Best regards They mean the same. Most Americans (probably 60%) would say big rather than large. > Hello all: > I would like to ask a native speaker whether or not adjectives "big" [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Best regards >> Hello all: >> I would like to ask a native speaker whether or not adjectives "big" [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> I think "large" should be used to describe physical size, and >> "big" is rather abstract . Am I right? > They mean the same. Most Americans (probably 60%) would say big rather than > large. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, big / large / great are frequently used with the following nouns: big man large numbers great success big house large part great majority big car large area great interest big boy large room great importance big dog large company great difficulty big smile large eyes great problem big problem large family great pleasure big surprise large volume great beauty big question large population great artist big difference large problem great surprise "Large is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying 'fat'." "Great often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the phrases: a large amount of - a large number of - a large quantity of - a great deal of - in great detail - a person of great age."  SignatureEnrico C ~ No native speaker |
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