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Thread: Is this sentence acceptable?

  1. #1
    John Ting is offline Newbie
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    Default Is this sentence acceptable?

    I have encountered a test question like this:

    We can go there by/on this number of bus.

    The question requires us to choose from by and on.

    But it seems this sentence sounds stilted, whether a by or an on is used.

    Please give me an explicit answer. Thanks!

  2. #2
    Clark is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Is this sentence acceptable?

    Quote Originally Posted by John Ting View Post
    I have encountered a test question like this:

    We can go there by/on this number of bus.

    The question requires us to choose from by and on.

    But it seems this sentence sounds stilted, whether a by or an on is used.

    Please give me an explicit answer. Thanks!
    To go by bus - is a set-phrase
    To go on a number 7 bus
    Last edited by Clark; 14-Jun-2008 at 15:53.
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  3. #3
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    Soup is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: Is this sentence acceptable?

    The phrase this number of bus is awkward, which makes both on and by unacceptable:
    Ex: We can go there on this number.
    Ex: We can go there by this number.
    Go (somewhere) by bus is a collocation.
    We can get there on bus number XX.
    We can get there by bus.
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