Many people do not see the difference in which verb to use in one context or another - “to dress” or “to put on.” Many even believe that there is no need for any rules, explanations or clarifications at all. In their opinion, “putting on a hat” or “putting on a hat” sounds different, but the result will still be the same.

Ushakov's dictionary about the verbs “dress” and “put on”

Ushakov’s “Explanatory Dictionary” gives the following explanations of the verb “to dress”:

1. To dress is to clothe someone or something in some kind of clothing. For example: “Dress the performers in fancy dress.”
2. To dress means to cover or wrap something for warmth. For example, putting a blanket on a horse, covering a sick person with a blanket.
3. IN figurative meaning“to dress” means to envelop, cover, envelop. Examples are figurative expressions-metaphors: “Winter covered the entire earth with snow” or “The trees covered the clearing with lacy shadows.”
4. To dress in a wide variety, to provide someone with clothes, to help in purchasing all kinds of apparel. For example: “She tried so hard to dress her family that she worked tirelessly.”

Ushakov writes about the verb “put on”:

1. Put on - pull, cover, pull on clothing, part of clothing or a blanket, blanket, fabric in order to shelter from cold, rain or wind, or to hide, hide nakedness. Examples: “Since it started to rain, don’t forget to put on a hood!”, “A smart girl put a net on herself - and was not naked and not wearing clothes!”
2. Put on - put something on something. “Petrovich put the duck on a spit - and on the fire, let it brown better!”

The figurative meaning of the verb “to put on”

Some linguists argue that the word “put on” is not as ambiguous as its paronym “put on.” They say that it defines only specific actions, but it is impossible to use it in a figurative sense.

However, this is not entirely true. The verb “put on” can serve as part of a metaphorical expression when animation occurs or human actions are transferred to it.

Examples are the following sentences: “The birches put on their earrings, as if they were marriageable girls” or “I put on a sheepskin coat made of snow oak tree, like an old grandfather, standing there, creaking.”

Let's turn to Rosenthal

At school, teachers explain the use of “dress” and “put on”, based on the following explanations by Rosenthal: they dress someone (or something, for example, a doll, a corpse, a stuffed animal) in something or with something, and put on something then on someone.

That is, you can dress or dress your son in a jacket, the bride in a wedding dress, or your hand with a glove. But you can put something on someone or something: a jacket on a son, a wedding dress on a bride, a glove on a hand. There is even a hint phrase: “Grandfather is dressed, his sheepskin coat is on.”

Antonyms can help us!

Some people, faced with the dilemma of whether to say “put on” or “put on a coat,” have come up with a simple way to choose the right option. It turns out that you can use antonyms of these words.

The word with the opposite meaning of the verb “dress” is the action “undress”, and the antonym of the verb “put on” is “take off”. Since the phrase “undress the coat” is meaningless, it is naturally impossible to put on the coat.

In the same way you can do right choice between two expressions: “put on glasses” or “put on glasses.” Is it possible to take off glasses? Of course not! Therefore, the second option should be considered correct - wear glasses.

This is the explanation most people are satisfied with. modern people, considering it the easiest and most correct.

Semantic confusion

Essentially, the use of the verbs “dress” or “put on” most often does not introduce confusion into the understanding of what has been said. Although such a possibility exists if, for example, the conversation is about a parsley doll, which is put on the hand like a glove.

A proposal to dress a parsley doll will mean that the doll should be dressed up in new clothes: change the hat, throw on a cape or tie a scarf. But the request to put on the doll already means that you need to pull the parsley on your hand and get ready for the performance. So in this situation, the use of the verbs “dress” or “put on” radically changes the meaning of what was said.

A similar thing can arise when it comes to the words “scarecrow” or “scarecrow”, because they can also be dressed in something or put on a pole or pillar.

Humor in Russian lessons

As you know, teenagers in all centuries have been distinguished by nihilism. The majority enthusiastically accepts all generally accepted rules with hostility. And, of course, they are trying to prove that the words “dress” and “put on” are practically the same, so there is no point in figuring out which one should be used in a particular case.

During the lessons, the teacher has to be an artist, a storyteller, be able to masterfully lead a discussion, select irrefutable evidence, and logically prove the need for knowledge of the rules of the Russian language. And he also needs to be... a humorist.

After all, humor is probably the most powerful weapon against ignorance. And even if the situation told by the teacher is not very plausible, its imagery will leave a “notch” in the mind forever. Thanks to a funny “picture” created by the imagination of a wise teacher, students will understand that there is a difference between the verbs “dress” and “put on”, and a huge one.

Dressed chicken

Confusion in the use of these two verbs occurs because both verbs have the same root. However, the verb “to put on” has more meanings. Along with the process of putting on items of clothing, it can also carry the meaning of “putting on”, for example, on a spit or pike. A story that will make the kids laugh and remain in their memory is precisely based on this ambiguity of the verb “to put on.”

At one of the student picnics there was a young man in the company who took everything literally. His name was Hernando, he was Mexican. The guys decided to cook chicken on skewers.

When the fire in the fire blazed merrily, the person in charge of preparing the treat said to Hernando: “Dress the chicken - here’s the skewer!” The guy to whom the request was made nodded his head and walked away from the fire to the table where the raw food lay.

He was absent for quite a long time. But when he returned with a chicken in his hands, friendly laughter simply exploded the neighborhood! The hen was wearing a leather cap, her waist was adorned with a skirt with straps - a kind of sundress made from the chiffon scarf of one of the flirty students, and the stumps of her legs were stuffed into someone's sneakers.

The one who gave Hernando the order to “dress the chicken” was the most indignant, because it was his cap and his sneakers that were ruined by the stupid Mexican. But he calmly replied that he fulfilled the request absolutely precisely: dressing a chicken means dressing it in some kind of outfit. He already knows Russian!

Of course, at first the order seemed a little strange to him. But he reasoned like this: being familiar with some Russian customs, the young man never tired of being surprised by them. For example, on carols people dress up in the skins of different animals, New Year decorate the Christmas tree. Maybe there is some other custom when you need to dress up the chicken before frying it?

Ironic illustration of rules helps improve memorization

By the way, after such a funny story, the teacher can present the children with pictures with captions: one drawing depicting a “dressy” chicken, and under it the phrase: “Dress the chicken in clothes,” and the second drawing with a carcass on a skewer, under which is written: “ Put the chicken on the skewer.”

After such a humorous and visual impact, the guys will never confuse what to say: “dress” or “put on.” A dress on a chicken, a cap and sneakers - this picture will definitely be remembered!

When do we say “dressed”?

Now the time has come to deal with definitions formed from verbs. It should be remembered that the verb “dress” is used only in relation to animate objects or inanimate ones, but with signs of a person (corpse, doll, stuffed animal, mannequin). As mentioned above, sometimes this verb appears in metaphors with animated objects inanimate nature- they are attributed the abilities of living beings.

Consequently, the word “dressed” can also serve as a definition only of a living creature or animated by human imagination. A dressed man, a dressed lady, houses dressed in snow caps - these are examples of the use of the word “dressed”.

Although in fairy tales, heroes (animated objects that are inanimate in ordinary life) can be dressed: this is a table, a bed, and other things.

“The table, dressed in a festive tablecloth, proudly looked at its neighbors” or “A photograph of her father, dressed in an elegant frame, hitherto gathering dust in the closet, was extremely happy about these changes in her destiny.”

“Glove on”, “glove on” - which is correct?

In relation to inanimate objects, the definition “wearing” should be used. That is, the suit cannot be dressed, but only put on. The same applies to the words “glasses”, “skirt”, “coat”, “hat” and others, denoting objects that are worn.

The glove example can be used in class to explain the difference between wearing and wearing. For better memorization, you can provide students with pictures with captions. Moreover, one of them will be reliable - with the signature “glove on”. But the picture signed with the phrase “wearing glove” will be of a humorous nature - there is a hat on the glove, or rather, on one of its fingers, and a scarf tied.

The phrase “dressed glove” can only exist in a fairy tale or a fantasy story, where the accessory comes to life and can dress up, speak, and think. For example, some ladies wear rings over their gloves. And such a fantastic plot allows the use of this phrase: the hostess put a ring on top of one glove, but not the other. And the “dressed glove,” with a gold belt decorated with a diamond, mocks his sister, who is “forced to go out naked.” This story may end with the owner losing one glove - the one that was “undressed”. The “rich glove” rejoices - now she will no longer tolerate this annoying beggar woman next to her! However, misfortune awaits her: the owner, having discovered the loss and having grieved, throws the stupid troublemaker into the trash.

Confusion in the use of the verbs “put on” and “dress” arose due to the fact that in everyday speech they are used as interchangeable forms. However, this is not a reason to neglect the norms of the Russian literary language, which determine the correctness and accuracy of word usage.

The words “dress” and “put on” have differences in lexical meaning, on which their semantic connection with other words in the sentence depends.

Verb " dress" means an action performed by a person towards another person or an inanimate object:

dress the child

dress the old man

dress the bride in a wedding dress

dress the doll

In speech, the verb “to dress” is connected by a method of control with a noun that names the object of action. This means that the noun in the sentence is a direct object: from the verb “to dress” you can ask the question whom? or what?

dress (who?) little brother in a clean shirt

dress (who?) a girl in a squirrel fur coat

dress (what?) a stuffed animal in an old robe

The verb “to dress” belongs to the category of reflexive verbs, that is, it can be used with the postfix –sya if the action of the subject of speech is directed towards himself:

dressed in everything new

dress in a fashion salon

dress for the season

Verb " put on" denotes an action that is performed in relation to oneself:

I need to wear a new suit

I'll wear something brighter

put on my favorite dress

Only in constructions with the preposition “on” the verb “put on” denotes an action directed at another person or object, most often inanimate:

put a robe on the patient

put glasses on nose

put a cover on the chair

put tires on wheels

A simple hint for the correct use in speech of the verb forms “dress” and “put on” can be the formula: they put on themselves or on something, they “dress” someone, they “dress” themselves.

Masha put on her mother’s beads and looked in the mirror.

The old man put the bait on the hook and cast out the fishing rod.

Anna Andreevna hastily dressed her son in a quilted jacket and went to the door.

The boy woke up, reluctantly got dressed and looked out the window.

the site determined that the difference between the verbs “put on” and “dress” is as follows:

1. The verb “put on” means that the action is directed towards oneself. The verb “to dress” is used if the action is directed towards another person or an inanimate object.
2. The verb “put on” forms constructions with the preposition “on”. In this case, it denotes an action directed at another person or thing. The verb “to dress” is not used with the preposition “on”.
3. The verb “to dress” in a sentence is connected by means of control with a noun that acts as a direct object. The verb “put on” does not have such a stable connection.
4. The verb “dress” can be used with the postfix –sya and denote an action directed at oneself. The verb “put on” is not a reflexive verb and is not used with the postfix –sya.

If you formulate this for yourself once and for all, then, having a very modest wardrobe, in a few minutes you will choose an image that suits the occasion. After all, how often do we put on our best things for one occasion or another, but on the spot we feel out of place, because we either overdid it or didn’t complete the look. And it is for such cases that there are rules for several, but win-win things.

1. We are sure you have a little black dress in your wardrobe.. Is there a small blue, gray or green one? The choice of color depends on which one suits you best. But having a simple, well-fitting dress in a neutral shade is a worthwhile wardrobe investment. Let's say that in the evening your friends invited you to a restaurant. You don’t know exactly what format it is, and you only have an hour before release. You can, of course, wear that little black dress, but this is the most banal thing you can think of. And you will meet a lot of people there in this outfit. And if you wear something too colorful and formal, you risk looking as if this is your first trip to a restaurant in your life. In such cases, simple outfits, without complex designs, bright colors, prints and decors, save the day. They are like a canvas on which you can paint whatever you want. Wear this simple dress and pair it with chic shoes.

black dress

black dress_1

Angela Harutyunyan

Fashion blogger

The main success of such a simple and appropriate dress for all occasions is that it should fit your figure flawlessly, emphasizing your strengths and hiding your flaws. Finding such an ideal dress is difficult, but if you find it, it will turn out to be the best that can be in your wardrobe.

2. Stylish jacket with an interesting cut or rich decor you also need it. He should attract all the attention in the image to himself. The jacket can be with rhinestones, with spikes and rivets, a complex style or a very bright shade. And with it you can just wear that little black dress or a regular white shirt and black trousers. Even jeans and a black top with an interesting jacket will look attractive. So this thing will save you once again when you don’t know what to wear for a special occasion.

3. Few women have a classic evening dress. For some reason, we remember it only when it turns out to be very necessary. For example, when there is a wedding with friends or acquaintances. Why look for and buy it in a hurry? It’s better if you have such a dress hanging in your closet and waiting to come out, than its absence will make you nervous at the right moment. The color can be completely different - from scarlet red to delicate beige. It is better if the style is flowing and the decor is not flashy. We’ll leave too many rhinestones, flounces and frills for brides and graduates. It is important for us to look elegant and feminine in an evening dress.

4. Byou were invited to your new Vacation home Friends. And if these are not your friends, but, let’s say, friends young man or my husband's colleagues. Then you won’t want to lose face at all, and at the same time, this case requires simple things and combinations. Therefore, we don’t even remember about flashy jewelry, original shoes and expensive handbags. Do you have a very feminine or even romantic dress with a delicate floral pattern? Put it on. It requires sandals, ballet flats or wedges. If you don't want a dress, wear a simple tank top and khaki pants. For the evening, take a warm cardigan in a classic color. The bag should be comfortable and roomy. If there is a straw one, then this is an ideal option. If not, then the main thing is that it is not a clutch, the rest will still do.

5. As for the daily struggles with choosing clothes, you need a basic wardrobe of 7 things. And as many accessories as you can afford. Jewelry, handbags, glasses, scarves, etc. - they will never be superfluous. Therefore, buy them constantly, many and varied. And those same 7 necessary things are black straight-cut skirt, black dress, black trousers, beige pumps, classic blue jeans, beige-brown cardigan and a strict white shirt. Basic things can also help when choosing an image for specific occasions.

basic wardrobe

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IN basic wardrobe There must be a dress - better than a fashionable blue one...

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Or rich green.

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And, of course, at least one little black dress.

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Jeans should be in any wardrobe, and preferably more than one...

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A white shirt will look great with jeans and a skirt.

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A jacket with sequins is a great option for the evening.

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A lace jacket can be worn with a pencil skirt.

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Be sure to buy yourself a cardigan in beige or pastel shades.

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A gray dress is suitable for meetings with friends.

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In this summer dress with a floral print, you can go for a walk in the park.

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A black jacket will go well with a gray top and jeans.

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You can go to a wedding in such a sparkling evening dress.

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The difference between put on and put on confuses many. Their incorrect use is designated as a speech error. These words are paronyms; they are similar in sound and spelling, but they have different meanings. Like any other paronyms, this pair of words is often misused.

You can understand the differences between them, as well as learn the rules of how to use them correctly, using simple ways to memorize them.

This pair of words was highlighted back in 1843 in the “Reference Place of the Russian Word”.

Already there, attention was focused on the complexity of using these words, it was indicated how each word is written, it was described what the difference between them is, when to write and say put on, and when to put on.

The words are similar in morphemic composition and sound; these are verbs. But they differ in the following characteristics:

• they have different prefixes (o- and na-);
• different lexical meaning.

Enshrined in explanatory dictionaries. To dress means to put some clothes on someone, to cover someone, to help. Putting on is an action directed at oneself, at the one who speaks.

But even understanding the lexical differences between these words does not always help you choose the right option.

Important! Rules, tables, examples and “memos” come to the rescue - ways to memorize the rules for using words.

How to choose the right word

You can use the table to select a word:

Examples can be used for better understanding. For the word put on:

• The girl put on a beautiful snow-white dress.
• I put on a hat because it’s cold outside.
• A cool wind blew in the evening, don't forget to wear a warm coat.
• I put on the new jewelry you gave me.
• Put the ring on, I like it so much!
• When putting on pants, don't forget to take out the belt.
• We wore the same overalls completely by accident.

For the word dress:

• I can’t get ready so quickly, I still have three children to dress!
• Dressing children for walks is the responsibility of educators.
• Dress warmly, it's freezing outside!
• Don't wear that skirt on her, it doesn't match her tights!
• It seems strange to me to dress a dog in so many clothes.
• Put glasses on her, she can't see well!

There is a vivid example of a “memory” with a glove. A worn glove is one that has something on it: a hat or scarf. And a glove on is a glove on the hand.

If these methods are not enough, you can use other options.

How to remember the difference forever

Not only rules, but also “memories” help to remember the difference between words and not make mistakes when using them: associative short poems, rhyming lines, short sentences, comic sketches. For example:

• Mommy was dressing her son, and he put on the wrong pants again.
• I will put on a red coat, and I will dress you in a blue coat.
• I dressed according to the new fashion, wearing a dress from the chest of drawers.
• I dressed Maruska in a jacket and put on boots for myself.
• Dress the doll in boots, put on those pants for yourself!

Advice!“They dress in something, put it on themselves!”, “Put it on themselves, dress someone” - sometimes it’s enough to remember these simple phrases for the correct use of words in the future.
You can come up with your own phrase. It should be simple and rhythmic, easy to remember.

Antonymous pairs help you choose between words:

• put on/take off;
• dress/undress.

If you are in doubt about the use of these words, you can replace them. For example, which usage is correct: “put on gloves” or “put on gloves”? If you replace the word with an antonym in the second case, you will get an incorrect phrase: “Take off your gloves.”

Is there a difference?

Disputes continue among Russian language researchers regarding the normative use of these words.

Some argue that there is not much difference, and modern language changes.

This leads to the fact that there is no longer a need to monitor word usage so strictly.

For example, even in Ushakov’s explanatory dictionary, in the meaning of the word “dress,” it is allowed to be used instead of “put on.”

And in 1973, in the reference book “Difficulties of Word Usage and Variants of Norms of the Russian Literary Language,” it was allowed to use both words freely without distinction, and this was not considered an error.

So you still have to think about how to say: dress or put on? Or let everyone speak as they please?

Modern researchers are divided: some defend the variability of the Russian language and advocate the preservation of shades of meaning behind each word.

Another part supports changes and the tendency of the language to simplify. This question is often raised, but there is no consensus on this matter yet.

Useful video

Let's sum it up

When using one of the two words, you should take into account the target audience of the text: if it is an academic text, then it is advisable to write in accordance with accepted norms of the Russian language.

In live speech, some mistakes may be made, but in any case you should always be able to argue your position. To do this, you need to arm yourself with rules, excerpts from dictionaries, and vivid examples and views on this problem from different linguists.