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Question Some red lights were flashing on and off.

hirashin

Sempai
Donor
8 Apr 2004
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Hello, native English speakers,
I have a question. Which verbs would sound right here?
(a) Some red lights were flashing on and off.
(b) Some red lights were going on and off.
(c) Some red lights were blinking on and off.
(d) Some red lights were winking on and off.

According to my dictionaries, (d) would be used in Britain.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin
 
I find it silly you'd be tested on this. I mean at this point it's not even about communicating in a language, the nuance is just so small, I don't see the point from a communication standpoint, seems futile. I don't see the point from a pedagogical point of view.

I'd say (a) or (b). (c) & (d) aren't colloquial.
 
Hirashin,

I would say "Some red lights were blinking" and "Some red lights were flashing" are the best. I do not think "on and off" is necessary. "Flashing" and "blinking" contain the idea of "on and off" (付いたり、切えたり).

(By the way, I speak American English not British English.)
 
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