Argh. I've been staring at this sentence now for the last 20 minutes, and my eyes are starting to cross.Can someone tell me what the proper use of 'light' would be in this sentence? 3 versions of the same sentence: --He took a step forward and stopped, eyes alight with astonishment. --He took a step forward and stopped, eyes lit with astonishment. --He took a step forward and stopped, eyes lighted with astonishment. The answer is probably obvious and I am totally grammatically ignorant, but if someone could help me I would appreciate it. Thanks!
When in doubt, I usually check the Oxford Dictionary, which tells you the other forms of the verb beneath the infinitive. Here it is for light: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/light?searchDictCode=all#light-3 Anyway, it would seem "lit" is the past tense whereas "lit" and "lighted" are the past participle. In other words, it would be: Light, lit, lit Or: Light, lit, lighted "Alight" means "to descend" either from a vehicle or like that of a bird. A bird alighted on my arm. Otherwise it could also mean "on fire". See here for alight: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/alight?searchDictCode=all
Oh gosh, right! Alight does mean to descend---I don't know why I didn't remember that! Thanks a ton for the Oxford link, I'll put it onto my favorites. I think 'lighted' might sound the best in this instance, but I'll have to think about it a while longer. Thanks again!
Oh c'mon. alight adverb, adjective 1. provided with light; lighted up. 2. on fire; burning. Origin before 1000; now taken as alight1; orig. past participle of alight to lightup ( Middle English alihten, Old English onlīhtan, equivalent to on a- līhtanto light) Alight works as much as lit. Your choice.
