wear vs put on

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Can someone please tell me the difference between the following two sentences?

  1. He is wearing glasses.
  2. He is putting on his glasses. (Is his optional here?)

Also, what’s the difference between the following two?

  1. Keep the book on the table.
  2. Put the book on the table.
2

Wearing means he as already placed the glasses on his face, and has them on his face as a routine manner.

Putting glasses on, means that he’s in the act of placing them on his face as you speak. His just adds extra emphasis that the glasses he’s putting on are are his. Depending on context, it may or may not be necessary. (You could also say “He’s putting his glasses on.”)

Keep the book on the table implies that somebody is about to remove the book from the table, or store the book in another place, and the speaker wishes the book to remain on the table.

Put the book on the table is simply an imperative giving directions. Somebody is holding a book, (possibly they have asked where they can put the book) and the speaker is telling them what to do, or where to place the book.

3

Thanks a ton, Skrej. You have been a great help.

Another question. :slight_smile: Which one of the following is more natural?

  1. You have been a great help
  2. You have been great help
4

Only #1 is natural. #2 is grammatically incorrect without the article.