On vs in

[Talab1234]

1. He became a dictator to quell social unrest on Cuba.

2. He became a dictator to quell social unrest in Cuba.

Are both sentences grammatically correct?

 

[GoesStation]

Use in because Cuba is a jurisdiction. You'd use on if it were an island but not also a country: The Ohio Department of Agriculture was investigating reports of fruit flies on Kelleys Island.

 

[Glizdka]

Not a teacher. Just asking a question.
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Use in because Cuba is a jurisdiction. You'd use on if it were an island but not also a country: The Agriculture was investigating reports of fruit flies on Kelleys Island.

What if I don't care about the country and only about the island? Does the mere fact the island is also a country prevent me from using on altogether, or did you just mean that in is used when referring to the country and on when referring to the island?

"There are many indigenous species found on Cuba that are not found anywhere else in the world."

 

[GoesStation]

What if I don't care about the country and only about the island? Does the mere fact the island is also a country prevent me from using on altogether, or did you just mean that in is used when referring to the country and on when referring to the island?

"There are many indigenous species found on Cuba that are not found anywhere else in the world."

The listener knows that Cuba is a country and therefore expects in. If you want to refer to the island only, you have to say on the island of Cuba.

 

[Glizdka]

If you want to refer to the island only, you have to say on the island of Cuba.

I thought just using on was enough. You live; you learn.

I suppose the same applies to Iceland, and Madagascar, right?

What about Australia (a continent, an island, and a country), the Philippines (a country and a collection of islands), and Hawaii (the biggest of the Hawaiian islands, a state that is comprised of the island of Hawaii and a collection of nearby islands, but not a country)?

 

[5jj]

When we mention Australia, most people think of the country, not the fact that it is entirely surrounded by sea - in.
The Philippines is the name of a country, not of an island - in.
If we are speaking of the state of Hawaii, we are not speaking of an island - in.

I don't know which preposition Americans use with the island of Hawaii.

 

[GoesStation]

I don't know which preposition Americans use with the island of Hawaii.

It's universally known as the big island.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's universally known as the big island.

It's not known as that in the UK so I'd have to disagree with "universally".