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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 14-May-2008, 16:19
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Default to sleep at/in?

What is the correct form?


"I sleep at the city" or "I sleep in the city"?
"I sleep at the farm", "I sleep in the farm" or "I sleep in the farm"?


why?

thans!
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Old 14-May-2008, 19:47
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Borovac View Post
What is the correct form?


"I sleep at the city" or "I sleep in the city"?
"I sleep at the farm", "I sleep in the farm" or "I sleep in the farm"?


why?

thans!
Correct form in what way?

You do things in a city, but you can do things on a farm.

I work in the city

The farmer is working on the farm
I am going to stay on the farm
I will be sleeping in the farmhouse.
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Old 16-May-2008, 17:28
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anglika View Post
Correct form in what way?

You do things in a city, but you can do things on a farm.

I work in the city

The farmer is working on the farm
I am going to stay on the farm
I will be sleeping in the farmhouse.

So if I am going to do anything (to sleep, to walk, to work) in the city, the only possible preposition is in?
And the same thing for farm, but I use on?


Is it? Or is there any other possibility?


thank you
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Old 16-May-2008, 17:54
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

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Originally Posted by Borovac View Post
So if I am going to do anything (to sleep, to walk, to work) in the city, the only possible preposition is in?
And the same thing for farm, but I use on?


Is it? Or is there any other possibility?

Possible uses of in:
I live in the suburbs, but I work in the city.
I live in the suburbs, but my job is in the city.
Possible uses of on:
We got on the train to go to visit my grandfather, who lived on a farm.
My maternal grandparents lived on a farm in Missouri. My father's relatives lived on a farm in rural Arkansas.
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Old 16-May-2008, 18:21
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Borovac View Post
What is the correct form?


"I sleep at the city" NOT POSSIBLE UNLESS IT'S A NAME

or "I sleep in the city"? POSSIBLE

"I sleep at the farm", POSSIBLE

"I sleep in the farm" or "I sleep in the farm"? NOT POSSIBLE



why?

thans!
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Old 17-May-2008, 19:31
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

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Originally Posted by riverkid View Post
#why?
#

Hi, riverkid: I guess it's a matter of collocation, "in" just collocates with "city" and "on" only collocates with "farm" in the cases above.



I'd like to know how could "at the farm" be used once it was stated that it's possible.

Thanks!
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Old 17-May-2008, 20:25
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

He's not here, John. You might find him at the farm. (general location - and at the farm, he might be in the farm house, or in one of the fields, sitting on a tractor.)

We couldn't hold the fete in the park so we are holding it at Warwick Castle, in the grounds there.

'at' : indicating the general localtion
'in' : indicating within, within the boundaries of (something)

I'll meet you at the club : this could mean you will meet outside, or inside but probably inside
I'll meet you in the club: definitely inside.

'on' : on the surface of, on the grounds of

Ducks swim on ponds.
On our farm we raise pigs.
Put it on the table.
Sit at the table.
Put it in the table drawer.

Last edited by David L.; 17-May-2008 at 20:31.
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Old 17-May-2008, 20:26
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Default Re: to sleep at/in?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Borovac View Post
Hi, riverkid: I guess it's a matter of collocation, "in" just collocates with "city" and "on" only collocates with "farm" in the cases above.



I'd like to know how could "at the farm" be used once it was stated that it's possible.

Thanks!
'at' the farm means at that location.

I travel to the city every morning but I still sleep at the farm. I find it's more restful.
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