Re: at vs. in

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AlbertBel

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Re: at vs. in

The team played a great game at / in Liverpool. Which one would be the correct option?
 
Re: at vs. in

AlbertBel, I have started a new thread for your question. Although it referred to "at/in" as did the thread you originally posted it on, I think this should be dealt with separately.

In your context, use "at". It is clear (I think) that you are talking about football (soccer) and in that context we say that teams play "at" a specific ground or use the team name. "In Liverpool" simply means somewhere in the city.
 
Re: at vs. in

[Not a teacher]

"...in Liverpool" suggest the city.
"...at Liverpool" we are using the city name instead of the sport event or institution (...at the Liverpool stadium/final/league/etc).

(Sorry emsr2d2, I was writing this answer while you were posting yours).
 
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Re: at vs. in

So should I use "at" when talking about an event or institution???
 
Re: at vs. in

So should I use "at" when talking about an event or institution???

The preposition "at" should be used to refer to a place as a point rather than a given area, and about an event, game, institution, conference or any other gathering of people.
 
Re: at vs. in

However I do not understand why some sentences with "at a bank" "at a shop"...etc.
 
Re: at vs. in

However, I do not understand why some sentences with "at a bank" "at a shop"...etc.

[Not a teacher]

(When used to begin a sentence, "however" must be followed by a comma.)

“At” can be used talk about buildings, such as banks, supermarkets, schools, etc.

He works at the bank in Elm Street.

Also to refer to the name of a particular organization:

He works at Barclays / Bloomberry (etc).

On the other hand, to refer to a kind of place or when meaning “inside” a building or structure, we use “in”.

He works in a bank.
We met in a bank.
 
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Re: at vs. in

The use of prepositions is one of the hardest aspects of the English language to master. Much of the time, you just have to learn their individual usage within specific contexts.
 
Re: at vs. in

The use of prepositions is one of the hardest aspects of the English language to master. Much of the time, you just have to learn their individual usage within specific contexts.

I fully agree with this. The rules above are general.
 
Re: at vs. in

At Elm Street or "in" Elm Street? If it is an address.
 
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Re: at vs. in

José Manuel Rosón Bravo, please remember to state you are not a teacher in every post.
 
Re: at vs. in

[Not a teacher]

At Elm Street or "in" Elm Street?

"At" (Elm Street), if we talk about an address, and a street name to refer to an institution located in that street.

"At 24 Elm Street"
"At Downing Street"

Anyway, there are exceptions and special rules.

Thus, we use "in / on" before the name of roads.

The bank is in/on Palm Road.

And sometimes "on" in the case of long streets, highways or roads.

The restaurant is on the Route 66.
 
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Re: at vs. in

'Route 66' does not take the definite article.

[Not a teacher]

I used the article because I saw the expression with the article some weeks ago when looking for information about Harley-Davidson trips in USA.

I have found one of the articles = http://reuthers.com/motorcycle-tours-route66.html

Obviously there is a single Route 66 in the world, so no need for the article.
 
Re: at vs. in

In BrE, it would be "He works at the bank in Elm Street". I think that in AmE, it would be "... on Elm Street".
 
Re: at vs. in

In BrE, it would be "He works at the bank in Elm Street". I think that in AmE, it would be "... on Elm Street".

[Not a teacher]

I know for sure that they say "on Wall Street", but I thought it was to mean the financial institution, and "on" just for long streets and roads (British English).

More --- https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/72615-quot-In-the-street-quot-vs-quot-On-the-street-quot

Anyway, I think there is a difference of meaning between "in the street" and "on the street". "On the street" seems to be more common in AE to refer to an address or building facing the street ("...on Elm Street"). But the expression "in the street" is also possible to mean the location right in the middle of the street.

Am I wrong?
 
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Re: at vs. in

The length of the street/road doesn't matter. We would say "the house is on Main Street" or "the bank is on Waverly Road."

"In the street" does mean literally where the cars drive. If someone is standing in the street they are in danger of being run over.
 
Re: at vs. in

So "in the road" is not correct, isn't it? I should use "on" in this case. But I do not understand exactly why. Why not "in the road" as "in the street"?
 
Re: at vs. in

[Not a teacher]

The length of the street/road doesn't matter. We would say "the house is on Main Street" or "the bank is on Waverly Road."

No, I meant just long streets, and any road.

I read about this grammar subject in an English grammar book some years ago, but it was a Cambridge publication. It seems that the preposition "on" is correct option in AE, but I perfectly remember the reference to the use of "in" when talking about addresses and before the name of a road, with the possible use of "on" in the case of long streets or (any) road.

At least in British English.

"In the street" does mean literally where the cars drive. If someone is standing in the street they are in danger of being run over.

Of course, on the sidewalk.
 
Re: at vs. in

So "in the road" is not correct, isn't it? I should use "on" in this case. But I do not understand exactly why. Why not "in the road" as "in the street"?

There is no difference between "street" and "road" in how this is handled. Whether you say "in" or "on" depends on what you mean to say.

And if you want to sound American or British.
 
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