before etc.

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

I have two questions to ask:

No.1
He was a bit nervous because he had to speak before so many specialists.
My question is 'Can I replace before with in front of'? I ask the question because in my dictionary there is an example:
Don't talk about in front of the children.

No.2

Generally speaking, 'people tremble' and 'building shakes'. But in my dictionary there is a sentence 'The house is trembling'. Is it a figurative use?

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

[MikeNewYork]

Dear teachers,

I have two questions to ask:

No.1
He was a bit nervous because he had to speak before so many specialists.
My question is 'Can I replace before with in front of'? I ask the question because in my dictionary there is an example:
Don't talk about in front of the children.

No.2

Generally speaking, 'people tremble' and 'building shakes'. But in my dictionary there is a sentence 'The house is trembling'. Is it a figurative use?

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

1. Yes. As a matter of fact, your version might be better. If the individual is speaking in front of that audience, the original might be misunderstood.

2. It is unusual for a building to tremble.

[jiang]

Dear Mike,
Thank you very much for your explanation. I understand No.2 now.
I am afraid I don't understand this part in your explanation 'the original might be misunderstood'

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

1. Yes. As a matter of fact, your version might be better. If the individual is speaking in front of that audience, the original might be misunderstood.

2. It is unusual for a building to tremble.

[MikeNewYork]

Dear Mike,
Thank you very much for your explanation. I understand No.2 now.
I am afraid I don't understand this part in your explanation 'the original might be misunderstood'

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

The preposition "before" has several meanings. Two of them could be intended in that sentence.

1. in front of the specialists
2. prior to the time the specialists spoke.

As it stands, because of the nervousness, I would read "before" as #1, but having specialists follow one's speech could also cause nervousness.

[jiang]

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see that 'in front of' is better than 'before'. Is that right?

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

Jiang

The preposition "before" has several meanings. Two of them could be intended in that sentence.

1. in front of the specialists
2. prior to the time the specialists spoke.

As it stands, because of the nervousness, I would read "before" as #1, but having specialists follow one's speech could also cause nervousness.

[curmudgeon]

Dear teachers,
'The house is trembling'. Is it a figurative use?
Jiang

It could be. The 'house' could be a reference to the people in the audience.
The house was trembling as they waited for the star to appear.

[MikeNewYork]

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see that 'in front of' is better than 'before'. Is that right?

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

Jiang

Yes it is.

You're welcome.

[jiang]

Dear curmudgeon,
Does the word 'trembling' here mean something like 'exciting'?

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

It could be. The 'house' could be a reference to the people in the audience.
The house was trembling as they waited for the star to appear.

[curmudgeon]

yes, trembling with anticipation or excitement

[jiang]

Dear curmudgeon,

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

Jiang

yes, trembling with anticipation or excitement