try - attempt

try - attempt
Both these words are used as verbs or nouns. The other forms of `try' are tries, trying, tried.
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◊ 'try' used as a verb
If you try to do something, you make an effort to do it.

My sister tried to cheer me up.

He was trying his best to understand.

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You can also try and do something. There is no difference in meaning.

Try and see how many of these questions you can answer.

Angelica started to try and help her up.

We must try and understand.

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Note that you can only use `and' after the base form of try — that is, when you are using it as an imperative or infinitive, or after a modal. You cannot say, for example, `I was trying and help her' or `I was trying and helping her'.
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If you try doing something, you do it in order to find out how useful, effective, or enjoyable it is.

He tried changing the subject.

Have you ever tried painting, Humbert?

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◊ 'attempt' used as a verb
If you attempt to do something, you try to do it. Attempt is a more formal word than try.

Some of the crowd attempted to break through police cordons.

Rescue workers attempted to cut him from the wreckage.

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You do not say that you `attempt and do' something or `attempt doing' something.
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◊ 'try' and 'attempt' used as nouns
When someone tries to do something, you can refer to what they do as a try or an attempt. Try is normally used only in conversation. In writing, you usually talk about an attempt.

After a few tries they gave up.

The young birds manage to fly several kilometres at their first attempt.

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You say that someone has a try at something or gives something a try.

You've had a good try at it.

`I'll go and see him in the morning.' —-`Yes, give it a try.'

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You say that someone makes an attempt to do something.

Wilt made an attempt to conciliate the man.

Two recent reports made an attempt to assess the success rate of the project.

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◊ 'trying'
The adjective trying is not related to the verb `try'. You say that someone or something is trying when they make you feel impatient or annoyed.

I find him very trying.

It had been a most trying experience for them.

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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Try — Try, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {tried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trying}.] [OE. trien to select, pick out, F. trier to cull, to out, LL. tritare to triturate (hence the sense of, to thresh, to separate the grain from the straw, to select), L. terere, tritum,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • attempt — [ə tempt′] vt. [ME attempten < OFr attempter < L attemptare, to try, solicit < ad , to + temptare, to try: see TEMPT] 1. to make an effort to do, get, have, etc.; try; endeavor 2. Archaic to tempt n. 1. a try 2. an attack, as on a person …   English World dictionary

  • try — /truy/, v., tried, trying, n., pl. tries. v.t. 1. to attempt to do or accomplish: Try it before you say it s simple. 2. to test the effect or result of (often fol. by out): to try a new method; to try a recipe out. 3. to endeavor to evaluate by… …   Universalium

  • attempt — {{11}}attempt (n.) 1530s, from ATTEMPT (Cf. attempt) (v.). Meaning effort to accomplish something by violence is from 1580s, especially as an assault on someone s life. {{12}}attempt (v.) late 14c., from O.Fr. attempter (14c.), earlier atenter to …   Etymology dictionary

  • attempt — vb Attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive, struggle as verbs mean to make an effort to do something that may or may not be successful and as nouns (the single exception in form being striving) mean the effort made to accomplish such an end.… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • try — [trī] vt. tried, trying [ME trien < OFr trier < ? VL * tritare, to cull out, grind < L tritus, pp. of terere, to rub, thresh grain: see TRITE] 1. Obs. to separate; set apart 2. a) to melt or render (fat, etc.) to get (the oil) b) to… …   English World dictionary

  • attempt — at·tempt n: the crime of having the intent to commit and taking action in an effort to commit a crime that fails or is prevented – called also criminal attempt; see also impossibility ◇ There is no settled answer to how close to completing a… …   Law dictionary

  • Attempt — At*tempt (?; 215), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Attempted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Attempting}.] [OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See {Tempt},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • try — ► VERB (tries, tried) 1) make an attempt or effort to do something. 2) (also try out) test (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant. 3) attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc. 4) (try on)… …   English terms dictionary

  • try — [n] attempt all one’s got*, best shot*, bid, crack*, dab, effort, endeavor, essay, fling*, go*, jab*, pop*, shot*, slap*, stab*, striving, struggle, trial, undertaking, whack*, whirl*; concepts 87,677 Ant. abstention try [v1] attempt aim, aspire …   New thesaurus

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