in, inside, on top of, on...

[forum_mail]

Hello there,

I'd like to aks you about the following sentences:

1) I always think that people talk _____ my back about me and my boyfriend. ---> which preposition suits best?

a) behind (I guess that this one)
b) at
c) on

2) I like riding a bik, but two weeks ago I leaned it against the fence and went _____ the pub and someone stole it!

a) inside
b) into
c) in

What's the difference would it make if I used a), b) or c) ?

3) When we go skiing, my father puts the skis _____ the car

a) on top of
b) on the top of
c) on

Again, what's the difference between these 3 answers? Btw. can I ask "what's the difference between those/these 3 answers" or is between restricted to 2 and no more?

best wishes,

 

[engee30]

Hello there,

I'd like to aks you about the following sentences:

1) I always think that people talk _____ my back about me and my boyfriend. ---> which preposition suits best?

a) behind (I guess that this one) :tick: You guessed correctly!
b) at
c) on

2) I like riding a bik, but two weeks ago I leaned it against the fence and went _____ the pub and someone stole it!

a) inside :cross:
b) into :tick:
c) in :cross: :tick:

What's the difference would it make if I used a), b) or c) ?

Of all of the three options, the best one seems b) (went) into = enter a place. With verbs of motion, like go, we normally use the preposition into followed by an object (in this case, go into the pub); if there was no object, then you could use in (There was a pub on my way home, so I decided to go in.). Inside isn't used with verbs of motion.

This is what I think.