preposition,comma,definite article

Status
Not open for further replies.

nille12345

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Swedish
Home Country
Sweden
Current Location
Sweden
Hi native English speakers!

I have a few questions that I'm sure someone out there can help me with.

1. The view from the prison to/towards the Golden Gate Bridge in/to the west and San Fransisco in/to the south is unique.

2. The prison was shut down by (the) Attorney General Robert ....(with or without the)

3. For many years the cable car has been the big/biggest tourist attraction.

4. In 1960 the city experienced a violent earthquake, which immediately started an awful fire.(comma or not)

This is what I think sounds the best, but are the other options still acceptable English?
1. towards+to the east
2. both with ot without article sounds ok
3. both are ok
4. with comma, since you're adding additional information

I'm looking forward to some answers from native speakers.

Nille
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Hi native English speakers!

I have a few questions that I'm sure someone out there can help me with.

1. The view from the prison, towards the Golden Gate Bridge to the west and San Fransisco to the south, is unique. I would write it like this.

2. The prison was shut down by (the) Attorney General Robert ....(with or without the)
Either with or without is OK.
3. For many years the cable car has been the big/biggest tourist attraction.
"A big" or "the biggest". You can only use "the biggest" if you mean the biggest attraction at the prison.
4. In 1960 the city experienced a violent earthquake, which immediately started an awful fire.(comma or not) No comma.



I'm looking forward to some answers from native speakers.

Nille
.
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi native English speakers!

I have a few questions that I'm sure someone out there can help me with.

1. The view from the prison to/towards the Golden Gate Bridge in/to the west and San Fransisco in/to the south is unique.

2. The prison was shut down by (the) Attorney General Robert ....(with or without the)

3. For many years the cable car has been the big/biggest tourist attraction.

4. In 1960 the city experienced a violent earthquake, which immediately started an awful fire.(comma or not)

This is what I think sounds the best, but are the other options still acceptable English?
1. towards+to the east
2. both with ot without article sounds ok
3. both are ok
4. with comma, since you're adding additional information

I'm looking forward to some answers from native speakers.

Nille

1. "The view from the prison of the Golden Gate Bridge..."(and I don't see much difference between the use of "in/to" in the remainder, except that it could depend on the position/perspective of the speaker/writer).

2. Use "the" without the Attorney General's name and exclude it with his name.

3. Either is OK depending on whether the speaker/writer means general popularity ("big") or some evidence indicates tourists consider it the most popular ("biggest").

4. I am a "comma conservative".
 

nille12345

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Swedish
Home Country
Sweden
Current Location
Sweden
Thanks !

So both options "the view of/towards.." are possible?
I think "to the west-to the south" sound better, but I'm not a native speaker. What do you think?
So there shouldn't be a comma in the last sentence?

Nille
 

nille12345

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Swedish
Home Country
Sweden
Current Location
Sweden
I've checked a few English-English dictionaries, but I don't find any examples where "towards" is used after "view", but it may still be acceptable, or?

Nille
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I've checked a few English-English dictionaries, but I don't find any examples where "towards" is used after "view", but it may still be acceptable, or?

Nille

I agree that "towards" doesn't really fit well with "view" if the spealer/writer (s/w) is referring only to the bridge itself, but if the s/w is referring to the panorama within the view of the bridge, then it would seem to be acceptable.
 

nille12345

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Swedish
Home Country
Sweden
Current Location
Sweden
Thanks for your answer.
It makes sense what you're saying.
How about my comma?
Do you think "in" the west/south is acceptable in my sentence, because I think "to" sounds a lot better?

Nille
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Thanks for your answer.
It makes sense what you're saying.
How about my comma?
Do you think "in" the west/south is acceptable in my sentence, because I think "to" sounds a lot better?

Nille

As I said I am a "comma conservative" so I don't use unless they are absolutely important to the meaning of the statement. I think "in" and "to" are both acceptable. But if forced to choose I'll go with "to".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top