the united states etc.

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

I have three questions to ask:

No.1
If we all set________ work, we can fulfil our plan ahead of schedule.

a. to b. about
The answer is 'a' but I think both are correct. Is that right?

No.2

She was run_____ by a car and died instantly.
a. over b. down
The answer is 'a' and I think that's a better one because 'she died' instantly. But I think 'b' is also correct because it happens when people run down they also died. Is that right?

No.3

I think I should put 'the' in front of 'United States'. But when I surfed the Internet I also came cross 'United States'. Does it mean both are correct or 'United States' is not formal?


Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[BobK]

...

No.1
If we all set________ work, we can fulfil our plan ahead of schedule.

a. to b. about
The answer is 'a' but I think both are correct. Is that right?

Nearly. "If we all set about working", "If we all set about the task", "If we all get down to work", are OK, but "set about work" sounds wrong to me, except in the context where you amplify the work involved: "we all set about the work of writing the labels".

No.2

She was run_____ by a car and died instantly.
a. over b. down
The answer is 'a' and I think that's a better one because 'she died' instantly. But I think 'b' is also correct because it happens when people run down they also died. Is that right?

They're more or less interchangeable now. In British English, I feel people use either "run over" (for a serious accident, involving hospital or the morgue) or "knocked down" (for cuts and bruises); but I've heard both,

No.3

I think I should put 'the' in front of 'United States'. But when I surfed the Internet I also came cross 'United States'. Does it mean both are correct or 'United States' is not formal?
...

Where "United States" is a noun , I'd give it the "the" (if it means the USA); but where it's used adjectivally (some people call this 'a noun in apposition'), it needs whichever article is appropriate: "the United States Navy" but "a United States citizen".

b

[jiang]

&
Dear BobK,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I understand No.2 and No.3.
As for No.1 I am sorry I didn't explain the confusion. The reason that I feel confused is that I read a sentence in my dictionary ' He set about his homework right after supper'. I consulted the phrase 'set about' in Random House Webster's Dictionary of American English and was surprised to find the following:

set about: to begin; start: set+ about + obj: to set about one's work.
set + about + verb-ing: to set about repariing the engines.

It seems the best way is to avoid using 'set about + verb-ing'.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Nearly. "If we all set about working", "If we all set about the task", "If we all get down to work", are OK, but "set about work" sounds wrong to me, except in the context where you amplify the work involved: "we all set about the work of writing the labels".



They're more or less interchangeable now. In British English, I feel people use either "run over" (for a serious accident, involving hospital or the morgue) or "knocked down" (for cuts and bruises); but I've heard both,



Where "United States" is a noun , I'd give it the "the" (if it means the USA); but where it's used adjectivally (some people call this 'a noun in apposition'), it needs whichever article is appropriate: "the United States Navy" but "a United States citizen".

b