adverbial clause/in vs. from

[navi tasan]

Could one ever say:
1-I shot birds in my room.

if the birds weren't in the room?

I'll try to make up a context:

A: What did you do in your room?
B1: In my room, I shot birds flying in the sky.
B2: I shot birds flying in the sky in my room.
B3: I shot birds in my room.


Are any of the sentences B1, B2 and B3 acceptable?
I know that in general one shoots a bird from one's room. But here the question is:
'What did you do in your room.'

 

[2006]

Could one ever say:
1-I shot birds in my room. only if the birds were in your room
If you say 'I shot (at) birds.', people would assume the birds were outside.

if the birds weren't in the room?

I'll try to make up a context:

A: What did you do in your room?
B1: [STRIKE]In my room,[/STRIKE] I shot birds flying in the sky. :tick:
B2: I shot birds flying in the sky in my room. :cross: not good For one thing, there is no sky in your room. With 'from' instead of "in", it would be correct.
B3: I shot birds in my room. :cross: The meaning is not clear. (see above)


Are any of the sentences B1, B2 and B3 acceptable?
I know that in general one shoots a bird from one's room. yes
But here the question is:
'What did you do in your room.'
I shot (at) birds (outside)(flying in the sky)(in the tree)(on the fence) etc.

2006

 

[navi tasan]

Thanks 2006.

How about:

A: What did you do in your office?
B: I called my Mom in my office.

A2:What did you do in your office?
B2: I called my Mom in her flat.

I agree that it doesn't work with 'shoot', but I think B and B2 are both acceptable.

I think logically one should be able to say in reply to: What did Oswald do in the attic of the depot?
C-He shot Kennedy in the attic of the depot.

But I agree with you that one would never say that and simply say:
D- He shot Kennedy.

 

[2006]

Thanks 2006.

How about:

A: What did you do in your office?
B: I called my Mom [STRIKE]in my office[/STRIKE]. :tick:
Adding "in my office" is not good. Some people will think you mean that you called your mom into your office.
I called my mom from my office. :tick: But you only need 'I called my mom.'

A2:What did you do in your office?
B2: I called my Mom (at)(in) her flat. :tick: "at" is better because maybe she is not inside her flat; maybe she is in the hallway or on the balcony. (She answered with her cellphone or mobile phone.)

I agree that it doesn't work with 'shoot', but I think B and B2 are both acceptable.

I think logically one should be able to say in reply to[STRIKE]:[/STRIKE] 'What did Oswald do in the attic of the depot?'
C-He shot Kennedy in the attic of the depot. :cross: No, one can't logically say that!
Kennedy was not in the attic! (the same as there is no sky in your room)

But I agree with you that one would never say that and simply say:
D- He shot Kennedy. :tick: Yes, this is the correct answer.

2006

 

[navi tasan]

Thanks a lot 2006.

One more question if I may:

Could one say:

1-In my office, I called my Mom.
2-In my office, I called my Mom at her flat.


I think it is obvious that I was in my office.

 

[2006]

Thanks a lot 2006.

One more question if I may:

Could one say:

1-In my office, I called my Mom.
2-In my office, I called my Mom at her flat.

You can say the above sentences, but without specific suitable context they don't sound natural.
'From my office, I called........' is much more natural.

I think it is obvious that I was in my office.

2006