In the balcony

Status
Not open for further replies.

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
Hello,
I read the following sentence:
Don't allow children to stay alone in the balcony.

Do you think "in" is okay here?
Did they use "in" because the balcony is like a room?
"In the living room." - "In the kitchen." - "In the balcony."
:?:

To me "on" or "at" sounds better.
What is your opinion?

Cheers!
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hello,
I read the following sentence:
Don't allow children to stay alone in the balcony.

Do you think "in" is okay here?
Did they use "in" because the balcony is like a room?
"In the living room." - "In the kitchen." - "In the balcony."
:?:

To me "on" or "at" sounds better.
What is your opinion?

Cheers!

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Nightmare.

(1) Prepositions confuse me, too -- especially in, on, for, to.

(2) I think that I am correct in saying that at would not be

appropriate.

(3) I think that (at least in the United States), this is the usual practice:

(a) Use on if you are referring to your apartment balcony:

They were eating on the balcony.

(b) Use in if you are referring to a balcony in a theater:

There are a few available seats in the balcony.

Let's see what others say.

Thank you
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Nightmare.

(1) Prepositions confuse me, too -- especially in, on, for, to.

(2) I think that I am correct in saying that at would not be

appropriate.

(3) I think that (at least in the United States), this is the usual practice:

(a) Use on if you are referring to your apartment balcony:

They were eating on the balcony.

(b) Use in if you are referring to a balcony in a theater:

There are a few available seats in the balcony.

Let's see what others say.

Thank you

I agree in BrE too.

Where's John?
He's on the balcony having a cigarette.

We're going to the theatre on Saturday night.
That's nice. Where are your seats?
They're in the balcony.
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
Thank you very much :)

Strangely, it was the balcony of an apartment/hotel.
Maybe it's an AmE vs. BrE case.

Cheers!
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Thank you very much :)

Strangely, it was the balcony of an apartment/hotel.
Maybe it's an AmE vs. BrE case.

Cheers!
Both of the previous posters said that "on an appartment balcony" was correct. One is English and the other is American, so it's not likely to be an American/British difference.
I agree with them, by the way.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top