ground

The ground is the surface of the place where we walk or build things.

• Your feet are on the ground.
• Children play on a playground.
• Campers camp in a campground.
• A plane fell from the sky and crashed on the ground.
• We plant seeds in the ground in the spring to grow vegetables.
• A little boy dropped his ice cream on the ground.
• Construction workers dig up the ground when they work on a building project.
• Right now the ground is still frozen. It will begin to thaw in late March or early April.

The word "grounds" is used in reference to the land that surrounds a building.

• A security guard patrols the grounds outside of a manufacturing plant.
• The grounds of a large estate are likely to be nicely landscaped with trees and plants.

They’re maintaining the grounds.

They’re cleaning junk up off the ground.

The word "grounds" is also used when referring to legal matters or a situation that demands a reason

• On what grounds did the plaintiff accuse the defendant?
• The legal matter was dismissed on the grounds that there was not enough evidence.
• Ralph’s bad behavior resulting from drinking too much became grounds for his wife to ask for a divorce.

The word "ground" can be used as a verb.

• Electric wires are connected to the ground in order to prevent electrocution. The wires are grounded.
• When a child misbehaves, the parents might ground the child as a form of punishment. To ground is to keep someone inside a house or building.
• If a plane is prevented from flying for reasons having to do with safety, the plane is grounded.

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This page was published on March 11, 2017.