at, in etc.

[jiang]

Dear Mike,

My English teacher corrected me by saying 'long way away' isn't correct because way can't modify time. This coincided with the key I came across in anther exercise book.Could you please explain if he is right or not? To remind you of the question I am quoting it here:

The construction of the dam is already _________. But its completion is still a long way_________.
a. in progress, away b. under way, off
According to the teacher only 'b' is correct.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang



Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang

We pay our rent at the beginning of every month.
According to the dictionary I can replace 'at' in this sentence with 'in' and 'from'. Then how can distinguish this use with 'at the beginning', in the beginning' and 'from the beginning' that you explained? In other words, can I use 'in' and 'from' in the sentence 'It will be ready at the beginnig of next week?

The sentence would be OK with "in", since there is often a ten-day grace period for rent. At the beginning is at a point, on or near the first. "In the beginning refers to a time period. "From" will not work, however.

In your other one, I would accept either option, though I prefer the second.

[MikeNewYork]

Dear Mike,

My English teacher corrected me by saying 'long way away' isn't correct because way can't modify time. This coincided with the key I came across in anther exercise book.Could you please explain if he is right or not? To remind you of the question I am quoting it here:

The construction of the dam is already _________. But its completion is still a long way_________.
a. in progress, away b. under way, off
According to the teacher only 'b' is correct.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang



Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang

If time can't be "away", how can it be "off"?

We deal with time in two ways, literally and figuratively. When we look at it figuratively, it is as if we are standing on a long road. The past is behind us and the future is in front of us. We apply terms of distance, length, proximity, etc. to time as if it were stops on the road. If a point in time can be off in the distance, it can certainly be far away. We use terms such as "in the distant future", "a long time ago", "in the near future", "a short time ago", etc.

[jiang]

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Jiang

If time can't be "away", how can it be "off"?

We deal with time in two ways, literally and figuratively. When we look at it figuratively, it is as if we are standing on a long road. The past is behind us and the future is in front of us. We apply terms of distance, length, proximity, etc. to time as if it were stops on the road. If a point in time can be off in the distance, it can certainly be far away. We use terms such as "in the distant future", "a long time ago", "in the near future", "a short time ago", etc.

[MikeNewYork]

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Jiang

You're welcome.