shade vs. shadow

shade vs. shadow?
posted by MAS1981 on 8/12 5:06 AM

Alice laid down in the ____ of the tree and fell asleep quickly. (A)branch (B)shadow (C)leaf (D)shade The answer is D. What can't I choose shadow? What's the difference between "shade" and "shadow"? How to discriminate between shade from shadow? Thank you very much.


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posted by clif on 8/12 11:23 AM

D. is the corect answer. If you put "shadow" in the blank, you would have a sentence that is technically correct from a purely grammatical point of view, but such a sentence would not be appropriate. Again, this comes down to usage versus grammar. Tradition dictates that "shade" be used in this context rather than "shadow." As to the difference between the words. They mean basically the same thing, but "shadow" has very negative connotations, while "shade" has generally pleasant or neutral connotations. "Shadow" has dark and scary implications. The sentence "Alice laid down in the shadow of the tree and fell asleep quickly." might be used in a horror story, where the author is trying to create an ominous and sinister mood. "Shadows" have a creepy connotation--you seek the shade of a tree, which implies something pleasant, relief from the heat; you don't seek the shadow of a tree, that would be ominous

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