prepositions

[mamen]

According to my friends we have no rules when it comes to prepositions.
Is this true?

Please give me a hint on the usage of in and on.

thank you!

[PROESL]

According to my friends we have no rules when it comes to prepositions.
Is this true?

Please give me a hint on the usage of in and on.

thank you!

Prepositions have meaning, and more often than people might realize, there is a way to explain prepositions. Sometimes there may not be an explanation, but, as I said, there oftentimes is a way to explain preposition usage. It's not random. There's reason and logic behind the way we use prepositions. I disagree with your friends.

Take a look here. I've posted a few interesting things on the topic of prepositions: http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/te...explained.html


He's in the conference room. - We use "in" for enclosed areas or areas with boundaries. A conference room is an enclosed area.

I like living in this city. - A city has boundaries.

Just leave the reports on my desk. Thank you. - We use "on" for surfaces. A desk is a surface.

There are other ways to use "in" and "on", but these examples, as I believe I recall, represent the "prototypical" uses of "in" and "on", or the primary way in which we use "in" and the primary way in which we use "on".

[Offroad]

When it comes to preposition, I, personally, just go with the flow.

As Proesl states, there must be a rule or explanation behind the usage. But the problem is: the rule may change from a country to another.

He walks on the streets.
He walks in the streets.

Which one would I choose?

Mmm...maybe 'on'... but for no apparent reason...I just don't give a tiny rat's a*** about this kind of ****.

And...of course, we must consider that some prepositions just collocates with some verbs, in a way that no other preposition would sound 'idiomatic'.

[PROESL]

When it comes to preposition, I, personally, just go with the flow.

As Proesl states, there must be a rule or explanation behind the usage. But the problem is: the rule may change from a country to another.

He walks on the streets.
He walks in the streets.

Which one would I choose?

Mmm...maybe 'on'... but for no apparent reason...I just don't give a tiny rat's a*** about this kind of ****.

I would say "he walks the streets", as in, possibly, "he walks the streets aimlessly". Here's the reason: Saying "he walks on the streets" is obvious because a street is a surface. I can't think of a reason to say "he walks in the streets".

You could however say, "they're dancin' in the streets", in which case "the streets" become an area with boundaries. The streets are now a place to celebrate and a dance floor.

Do you have speakers?

[Offroad]

I would say "he walks the streets", as in, possibly, "he walks the streets aimlessly". Here's the reason: Saying "he walks on the streets" is obvious because a street is a surface. I can't think of a reason to say "he walks in the streets".

Hahaha..you touched it with a needle. It does not matter if it's 'in' or 'on', both are correct.

He walks on the streets (AmE)
He walks in the streets (BrE)

If I am not mistaken, I already heard an American say or at least write 'walk in the street'.

You could however say, "they're dancin' in the streets", in which case "the streets" become an area with boundaries. The streets are now a place to celebrate and a dance floor.

Do you have speakers?
what?

[PROESL]

Here are a couple examples.

Don't walk in the street. There's a lot of traffic here, and it's dangerous.

Don't play in the street! You'll get run over!

They're walking down the street.

[Offroad]

Are you interested in a interesting thread about 'interested' and its interesting prepositions?

[PROESL]

Are you interested in a interesting thread about 'interested' and its interesting prepositions?

I would be quite sanguine about such a thread.

[Offroad]

I searched both Corpora of English:

IN
they are interested in social phenomena
no one in their immediate family was interested in farming

ON
I'm not interested on being on the cover for real again
And I'll be very interested on the Democrat side to see if...

FROM
He is interested from the neighborhood side
Others are very interested from the beginning in the...

ABOUT
I'm interested about the skip...
You're not interested about me

TO
I was kind of interested to see how far he would take it
I'd be interested to coming down to work..

OF
she was interested of the idea of Mike...
greater interested of the game

AT
she doesn't seem interested at 6 or 7 months...
we're interested at putting you on


What's the difference between them?

I'm interested to hear about your family
I'm interested on/in/from/about/(?) hearing about your new job.
I'm interested from getting started.

[bhaisahab]

I searched both Corpora of English:

IN
they are interested in social phenomena
no one in their immediate family was interested in farming

ON
I'm not interested on being on the cover for real again
And I'll be very interested on the Democrat side to see if... These are wrong.

FROM
He is interested from the neighborhood side
Others are very interested from the beginning in the... These are ok.

ABOUT
I'm interested about the skip...
You're not interested about me These are wrong.

TO
I was kind of interested to see how far he would take it
I'd be interested to coming down to work.. These are wrong.

OF
she was interested of the idea of Mike...
greater interested of the game These are wrong.

AT
she doesn't seem interested at 6 or 7 months...
we're interested at putting you on These are wrong.


What's the difference between them?

I'm interested to hear about your family This is ok.
I'm interested on/in/from/about/(?) hearing about your new job in.
I'm interested from getting started.in

Disclaimer: All of the above are BrE.