I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

Meaning: This means that the reader was so engrossed in the story that they couldn't stop reading until they had found out what happened.

Choice of Words: Couldn't is a contraction of the words "could not." Put is a verb that means to place something somewhere. Down is a preposition that means to a lower position or level. Together, they mean that the reader was unable to stop reading the book until they had finished it.

Alternative Expressions

I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

Meaning: This means that the person was so engrossed in the book that they couldn't stop reading it until they had finished the entire thing. It's like saying, I was so interested in the book that I couldn't stop reading it until I had read the last page.

Choice of Words: Couldn't is a contraction of "could not" which means to be unable to do something. Put means to place something somewhere. Down means to move something to a lower position. Until means up to the time that something happens. Finished means to have completed something. When you put them together, "I couldn't put the book down until I finished it" means that the person was unable to stop reading the book until they had read the entire thing.

The book was so good, I couldn't put it down.

Meaning: This means that the person enjoyed the book so much that they couldn't stop reading it. It's like saying, I found the book to be so interesting that I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.

Choice of Words: The is a definite article that refers to a specific noun. Book is a noun that refers to a written or printed work consisting of pages bound together along one side. Was is a verb that refers to the state of being. So is an adverb that means to a great extent or degree. Good is an adjective that refers to something that is pleasing or satisfactory. I is a pronoun that refers to the speaker. Couldn't is a contraction of "could not" which means to be unable to do something. Put means to place something somewhere. Down means to move something to a lower position. When you put them together, "The book was so good, I couldn't put it down" means that the person found the book to be so enjoyable that they were unable to stop reading it.

I was hooked on the book.

Meaning: This means that the person was so interested in the book that they couldn't stop reading it. It's like saying, I found the book to be so captivating that I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.

Choice of Words: I is a pronoun that refers to the speaker. Was is a verb that refers to the state of being. Hooked is an adjective that means to be strongly attracted to something. On is a preposition that means to be in contact with something. The is a definite article that refers to a specific noun. Book is a noun that refers to a written or printed work consisting of pages bound together along one side. When you put them together, "I was hooked on the book" means that the person was strongly attracted to the book and couldn't stop reading it.

Related Expressions