In/ ON or AT the front?

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RonBee

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When do we use:
IN the front
On the Front
At the front?
It depends.
in the front of the room
on the front of the car
at the front of the class
 

RonBee

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in the front
They were sitting in the front row.​
A mullet is a hairstyle that is short in the front, top, and sides, but long in the back.​
He works in the front office.​
He sat in the front of the bus.​
I’ve stayed in the front yard all my life.​
Typically, a battalion would be expected to serve a spell in the front line​
Right now, gorgeous, depilated, tanned bare legs are on show in the front row.​
I should be in the front of the plane.​
Oscar Wilde said: "A true friend stabs you in the front."​
But even though the bags have saved many adults' lives, kids 12 years and under should never sit in the front seat of a car that has air bags.​
It will help to maximize space in the front office.​
A new U.K. survey adds further evidence to this phenomena with the news that some of our biggest life-changing decisions are made in the front seat of a car.​
In a recent article on Forbes.com, it was revealed that big designers hire "wranglers" who pay famous people to sit in the front rows of their fashion shows.​



Poetry Foundation: The online home of the Poetry Foundation
Oscar Wilde quotes
Oscar Wilde quotes

~R
 
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peter123

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Hi there,
Could you give examples to show how to use 'at the front..'? thanks a lot.

peter
 

RonBee

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on the front

As I was on the front line, let me add a bit more.​

He was waiting on the front porch.​

Iraq contractors make billions on the front line.​

New litigation rules put IT on the front lines of data access.​

At a time when free expression and the right to privacy are under attack, librarians are on the front lines protecting our constitutional rights every day.​

After Himmelstoss later joins them on the front, he is a coward who hides and claims that he is wounded because he has a scratch on his face.​

"We may have put the caboose on the front -- we should have gone after guns first. . . . Decent folk are just tired of living under the threat of the gun."​

The lead stories are found on the front page of the paper.​

It features an HP ad on the front page, and the lead story is about the ongoing HP boardroom scandal.​
 

RonBee

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at the front

On August 22, the regiment took over its first trenches at the front in the Vosges Sector, where they remained until September 18, during which time numerous raids, patrols, etc., were planned and executed.​

Why is the opening at the front of men's briefs still there if it's rarely used?​

What is the opening at the front of briefs (and boxer breifs) for? Okay, I know what it's for, but does anyone actually use it? It seems far more trouble to manipulate than pulling the front of your pants down four inches.​

In just one information-packed, fast-paced day, discover new solutions, surefire techniques and "best practices" for making your job at the front desk easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.​

These kids will be at the front of this new world.​

So there was Ethan, consummate geek, long stringy hair, awewome physique, blogging away at the front of the room....​

They are invariably at the front of nowhere at all, and more than happy to be there. The old "chickenhawk" label has a deeper meaning than we ever realized.​
Upper Limb: Superficial Structures at the front of the Elbow
 

joham

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OALD 6th edition, front:
There's a garden at the front of the house.
Write your name in the front of the book (= the first few pages).

Longman 4th edition, front
at/in front of: She always sat at the front of the class.
(MOST IMPORTANT SIDE) Dean sent me a postcard with a picture of Bolton Abbey on the front.

MacMillan, at/in the front
Tom was sitting at the front of the bus.
the man at the front of the queue
If you can't see the blackboard, come and sit at the front.
He showed them where he had signed his name in the front of the book.
 

belly_ttt

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So, I guess "on the front" of a magazine is "on the cover of its" while at/in the front of a magazine is " in a first few page"?
 

jctgf

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so, there is no rule or logic reason to use one or the other?

people simply naturally learn how to speak as they grow speaking the language?

it's extremely hard for a foreigner to use the appropriate preposition if there is no logic involved.

in case of doubt, which one should i use (which would be less incorrect) ?

thanks
 

RonBee

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So, there is no rule or logic reason to use one or the other?

People simply naturally learn how to speak as they grow speaking the language?

It's extremely hard for a foreigner to use the appropriate preposition if there is no logic involved.

In case of doubt, which one should I use (which would be less incorrect) ?
Well, there is some logic involved. For example, you wouldn't normally sit on your desk. You would sit at it. So, a person works at the front desk, not on it.

It is true, however, that there isn't necessarily much logic involved with prepositions. It is language, not logic. In matters of usage you often have to get a "feel" for how words and phrases are used in different situations.

~R
 
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