Haste vs. hurry

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/inter-77 "Christmas Postman (4)", question 1

I did just that but in my ......... I dropped a small packet that fell into a puddle.

(a) hurry
(b) haste
(c) speed
(d) hasting

Test No. incompl/inter-77 "Christmas Postman (4)", answer 1

I did just that but in my haste I dropped a small packet that fell into a puddle.

Correct answer: (b) haste
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Why haste?

[Alan]

Hi,

An interesting question. I think I can best explain the difference by saying that hurry is usually restricted to expressions with adjectives and the indefinite article - in a great hurry or with the indefinite article alone- in a hurry. Haste has a slightly more abstract sense and would be used with the possessive adjective as here (my) or with an adjective alone - in great haste.

Hope this helps.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story The Name of the Game