Results 1 to 7 of 7
Like Tree12Likes
  • 2 Post By bwkcaj_ca
  • 1 Post By Mehrgan
  • 3 Post By BobK
  • 1 Post By 5jj
  • 3 Post By Tdol
  • 2 Post By BobK

Thread: 'no space in my paper'?

  1. #1
    Mehrgan's Avatar
    Mehrgan is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • Persian
      • Home Country:
      • Iran
      • Current Location:
      • Iran
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    1,465

    Question 'no space in my paper'?

    Hi,
    What is the most usual way of saying this in English? When you're writing something on your paper and you have no more space (?!)

    Any other way of saying this, say, like 'I've finished my paper ...?



    So many thanks.

  2. #2
    bwkcaj_ca is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Canada
      • Current Location:
      • Canada
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    123

    Default Re: 'no space in my paper'?

    You could say

    'I've run out of paper.

    or

    I've run out of space.

    Run out is a phrasal verb meaning to use up all that is available of something.
    Mehrgan and faryan like this.

  3. #3
    Mehrgan's Avatar
    Mehrgan is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • Persian
      • Home Country:
      • Iran
      • Current Location:
      • Iran
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    1,465

    Default Re: 'no space in my paper'?

    Quote Originally Posted by bwkcaj_ca View Post
    You could say

    'I've run out of paper.

    or

    I've run out of space.

    Run out is a phrasal verb meaning to use up all that is available of something.
    Thanks a lot. So can I also say 'there's no space (left) in/(on) my paper'?


    Cheers!
    faryan likes this.

  4. #4
    BobK's Avatar
    BobK is offline Harmless drudge
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    14,901

    Default Re: 'no space in my paper'?

    - but with 'on' rather than 'in'.And the 'of paper' is unnecessary - it's obvious from the context.
    Quote Originally Posted by bwkcaj_ca View Post
    You could say

    'I've run out of paper.

    or

    I've run out of space.

    Run out is a phrasal verb meaning to use up all that is available of something.
    These two are the ones I've heard most often. I've also heard a jocular 'I've run out of page'. Page doesn't collocate with 'run out of', but this is the sort of liberty that a native speaker can get away with.

    b
    Last edited by BobK; 07-Jun-2011 at 12:30. Reason: Added 2nd sent.
    faryan, 5jj and Mehrgan like this.

  5. #5
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    24,003

    Default Re: 'no space in my paper'?

    Quote Originally Posted by BobK View Post
    'I've run out of paper. .....or.....I've run out of space.

    These two are the ones I've heard most often. I've also heard a jocular 'I've run out of page'.
    You are right, of course, but I just couldn't think of them . Thanks.
    Mehrgan likes this.

  6. #6
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    38,631

    Default Re: 'no space in my paper'?

    Or express it differently- I need more paper.
    faryan, 5jj and Mehrgan like this.

  7. #7
    BobK's Avatar
    BobK is offline Harmless drudge
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    14,901

    Default Re: 'no space in my paper'?

    Whatever you do, don't use just 'finished'. If an academic says 'I've finished my paper' s/he has finished writing an article. If a student in an exam room says 'I've finished my paper' s/he means s/he's finished the exam paper.... 'Finished' needs to be qualified in some way to make it mean 'come to the end of an exhaustible supply'.

    b
    faryan and Mehrgan like this.

Similar Threads

  1. [General] space
    By Ashiuhto in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 28-Apr-2011, 13:40
  2. [Grammar] Space off
    By lauta in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-Aug-2008, 19:54
  3. outer space or just space
    By nimsooze in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 27-Feb-2007, 05:25
  4. piece of paper/sheet of paper
    By Mad-ox in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 25-Nov-2006, 09:04
  5. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 14-Oct-2004, 14:39

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1