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the oil can/will last/keep

hirashin

Sempai
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8 Apr 2004
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Which would be used?
(a) Used economically, the oil will last for five days.
(b) Used economically, the oil can last for five days.
(c) Used economically, the oil will keep for five days.
(d) Used economically, the oil can keep for five days.
(e) Used economically, the oil will hold for five days.
(e) Used economically, the oil can hold for five days.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin
 
Which would be used?
(a) Used economically, the oil will last for five days.
(b) Used economically, the oil can last for five days.
(c) Used economically, the oil will keep for five days.
(d) Used economically, the oil can keep for five days.
(e) Used economically, the oil will hold for five days.
(e) Used economically, the oil can hold for five days.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin

I'd say (a), though (b) sounds reasonable.
'keep' is used for perishable food/drink
'If refrigerated, this milk will keep for a week'. Once again, I prefer 'will' to 'can' but both are OK.
I can't think of any circumstances when I'd use 'hold' in this context.
 
Thanks again, Lothor.
Is it that you don't say "the oil will hold"?

I don't! Try googling "this oil will hold", I saw 'this oil will hold its flavor', which sounds OK, and 'this oil will hold up/hold out (i.e., maintain its quality) under extreme conditions", which also sounds OK. But in terms of lasting for a number of days, your context, I woud never use 'hold'.
 
I see. Thanks for the help.
How about this one? It's from one of my dictionaries. Does it sound OK?
(a) How much longer will our kerosene hold out?

If (a) sounds OK, does it have the same meaning as (b)?
(b) How much longer will our kerosene last?
 
I see. Thanks for the help.
How about this one? It's from one of my dictionaries. Does it sound OK?
(a) How much longer will our kerosene hold out?

If (a) sounds OK, does it have the same meaning as (b)?
(b) How much longer will our kerosene last?

It sounds OK and has the same meaning, but be aware that 'hold out' is often used in a survival situation - imagine some explorers in the Antarctic cut off from civilisation due an accident and examining their supplies wondering if they'll survive - 'we're OK for food and water for a few weeks but our kerosene will only hold our for a few more days'.
 
Thanks, Lothor.

'we're OK for food and water for a few weeks but our kerosene will only hold our for a few more days'.

I suppose "our" in "hold our for a few more days" is a typo. It should be "hold out". Am I right?
 
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