open
Open can be a verb or an adjective.
used as a verb
If you open something such as a door, you move it so that it no longer covers a hole or gap.
She opened the door with her key.
He opened the window and looked out.
Be careful
When you use open with a person as the subject, you must put an object after it. Don't say, for example, ‘I went to the door and opened’. You say ‘I went to the door and opened it’.
When you use open with a person as the subject, you must put an object after it. Don't say, for example, ‘I went to the door and opened’. You say ‘I went to the door and opened it’.
I went to the front door, opened it, and looked out.
used as an adjective
When a door or window is not covering the hole or gap it is intended to cover, you say that it is open.
The door was open.
He was sitting by the open window of the office.
Be careful
When a door or window is in this position, don't say that it is ‘opened’. Opened is the past form or -ed participle of the verb open. You only use it when you are describing the action of opening a door or window.
When a door or window is in this position, don't say that it is ‘opened’. Opened is the past form or -ed participle of the verb open. You only use it when you are describing the action of opening a door or window.
The front door was opened, then suddenly shut again.
used after other verbs
Open can be used after other verbs of position or movement.
The doors of the ninth-floor rooms hung open.
Bernard pushed the door fully open.
He noticed the way the drawer slid open.
Open is one of several words that can be used after verbs of position or movement like this. Others are closed, shut, free, loose, straight, and upright. These words are sometimes considered to be adverbs and sometimes adjectives.
Be careful
Don't use open as a verb or adjective to talk about electrical equipment. For example, if someone makes some electrical equipment work by pressing a switch or turning a knob, don't say that they ‘open’ it. Say that they put it on, switch it on or turn it on.
Don't use open as a verb or adjective to talk about electrical equipment. For example, if someone makes some electrical equipment work by pressing a switch or turning a knob, don't say that they ‘open’ it. Say that they put it on, switch it on or turn it on.
Do you mind if I put the light on?
I went across and switched on the TV.
I turned on the radio as I did every morning.