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correct words

 
 
Reply Mon 3 Nov, 2008 09:23 am
I tossed and turned in my bed and kept staring at the ceiling with wide open/opened eyes. A noise was keeping me awake.

1. Is my needed?

2. Should I use open eyes or opened eyes?

Many thanks in advance.
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Setanta
 
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Reply Mon 3 Nov, 2008 10:50 am
@tanguatlay,
No, "my" is not needed, and it is not wrong to use it, either.

You could use either "wide open eyes" or "wide opened eyes," but to me either locution sounds awkward. You could write "with eyes wide-open."

Or you could leave it out altogether. If you are tossing and turning in bed because of sleeplessness, the implication is that you are trying to sleep, but failing to do so. Someone who trying to sleep is unlikely to have their eyes open. I suggest that the sentence is awkward because the idea being expressed is implausible.
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Merry Andrew
 
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Reply Mon 3 Nov, 2008 01:18 pm
@tanguatlay,
To answer your first question -- is 'my' needed? -- no, it's not necessary but linguistically there's no harm in leaving it in.
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