on/to my right; to/on the left

[sitifan]

1. In the picture, the girl on my right is my sister. (Hanlin English, Book 3, page 162)
2. In the picture, the girl to my right is my sister.
3. The post office is to the left of the library. (Hanlin English, Book 3, page 162)
4. The post office is on the left of the library.
#1 and #3 are quoted from a textbook. Are #2 and #4 also acceptable to native speakers?

 

[emsr2d2]

#2 is fine. #4 is understandable but it's definitely not as natural as #3.

 

[jutfrank]

Be careful with this. The two phrases on somebody's right/left and to somebody's right/left often have opposite meanings, depending on the perspectives of the speaker and hearer.

 

[Rover_KE]

See also this thread.

 

[sitifan]

Be careful with this. The two phrases on somebody's right/left and to somebody's right/left often have opposite meanings, depending on the perspectives of the speaker and hearer.

There seems to be no difference in meaning between on, at or to someone’s left/right.​

https://www.macmillandictionary.com...t or to the left,see the Houses of Parliament

 

[sitifan]

#2 is fine. #4 is understandable but it's definitely not as natural as #3.

5. In the picture, the girl at my right is my sister.
6. The post office is at the left of the library.
Are #5 and #6 also acceptable to native speakers?

 

[Barque]

These don't sound as natural. In fact I don't think I've ever heard "at the left/right" used this way.

You could use "at the left/right" in slightly different sentences, when you're talking about areas within something or somewhere.
The shops are all at the left side of the beach.
The number keys are at the right [side] of the key board.

 

[Tdol]

I wouldn't use #6. I have heard #5 used.

 

[5jj]

I wouldn't use #6. I have heard #5 used.

I wouldn't use either.