ahead vs ahead of us

[mrwroc]

What is the difference between "ahead" and "ahead of us" in below sentences?


The road ahead is very busy.
Rick walked ahead of us.
We've got a lot of hard work ahead.



Can I change the sentences to:

The road ahead of us is very busy.
Rick walked ahead.
We've got a lot of hard work ahead of us.



??

 

[teechar]

What is the difference between "ahead" and "ahead of us" in [STRIKE]below[/STRIKE] the sentences below?

1- We need "the" because we are referring to specific sentences.
2- Note the correct position of "below".
3- The difference is that "ahead of us" is more specific than "ahead".

For example, without "of us" (and assuming that there is no broader context), the sentences might mean:
The road ahead of them is very busy.
Rick walked ahead of the group.
We've got a lot of hard work ahead of the festival.

 

[emsr2d2]

What is the difference between "ahead" and "ahead of us" in [STRIKE]below[/STRIKE] the sentences below?

The road ahead is very busy.
Rick walked ahead of us.
We've got a lot of hard work ahead.

Can I change the sentences to the following?

The road ahead of us is very busy. Yes, but only if you're referring to the road ahead "of us". You could be talking about a different road in the original version.
Rick walked ahead. Not if you want to include the information that Rick is ahead "of us".
We've got a lot of hard work ahead of us. Yes, but "of us" is unnecessary because you used "We've" at the start, making it clear who you're talking about.

[STRIKE]??[/STRIKE]

Note my corrections and comments above. Please try not to include actual quote boxes in post #1. Text inside a blue quote box doesn't appear when we hit "Reply with quote".

 

[Tdol]

3- The difference is that "ahead of us" is more specific than "ahead".

Not that much more specific given the subject of the sentence.

 

[jutfrank]

The difference, obviously, is that the latter has of us, which has an independent meaning.

So, if your listener understands from the wider context that you mean of us, even though you don't say it, then you don't need to say it. Equally, if you think your listener won't understand that you mean of us, then you should say it.