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Thread: Prepositions of place at; in; on

  1. #1
    JustAlilBit is offline Member
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    Default Prepositions of place at; in; on

    New day, old problem and of course I am curious know everything about three things that's at; in and on of using them corretly at prepositions of place.
    In the internet I found everything about them, but I would like to discuss about them usage correctly. This page ( Prepositions of Place: at, in, on ) says we use preposition "at" for "a" point and I agree with this.
    But I wouldn't agree with that we use preposition in for an enclosed space and that we use prepostition on for a surface.
    My book says correct usage of "in" and "on" depends on American English and British English.
    For example: (Information is from my book)

    American English - British English
    live in on X street- live in X street
    on a team - in a team
    on the weekend - at the weekend

    Web says:
    in a helicopter - on a plane (But they both are in enclosed place)
    When I did a test prepositions of place I was confused, I was selected "I live on X street" then the test said that I am not right.
    In my opinion when I want to refer place I can use "on" and "in" it doesn't matter. What does native speakers think about it ?
    Last edited by JustAlilBit; 21-Nov-2011 at 14:32.

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    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    All "rules" of English are subject to exceptions and regionalisms.

    The "rule" about in a thing versus on a things is not immune to this.

    In general though, it is a good rule. In a box is different from on a box.

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    JustAlilBit is offline Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    All "rules" of English are subject to exceptions and regionalisms.

    The "rule" about in a thing versus on a things is not immune to this.

    In general though, it is a good rule. In a box is different from on a box.
    You are right, but we are talking about pepositions of place, for example something can be put on a box, but if I want to refer place in my opinion correct answer should be in a box.

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    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    I don't know what you mean by "if I want to refer place."

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    JustAlilBit is offline Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    I don't know what you mean by "if I want to refer place."
    Sorry, I mean to indicate a place

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    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    Which place?

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    JustAlilBit is offline Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    Which place?
    When people want to indicate a place do we use "in"? cat is in a box. when we want to indicate when something is on someting we use "on"

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    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    You can't say unless you know where the cat is. There is no correct answer for all "places." if the cat has jumped inside, then he is in the box. If the cat is on the top of the closed box, then he is on the box.

  9. #9
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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: Prepositions of place at; in; on

    I live in Johnson Street; my American colleagues probably live on Johnson Street. I live in (the city) of Prague, but if I fly to the United States, I change at Frankfurt.

    You can usefully learn the 'basic' meanings of some of the prepositions, in/on/out of/ the box, for example. , but you'll just have to accept that most prepositional usage just does not fit into convenient categories of meaning.
    bhaisahab likes this.
    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


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