Through under the fence and you are in Mexico.

[alexandravujacic]

Hi! I would like to know if the sentence in the title is grammatically correct. The idea it tries to convey is GETTING THROUGH UNDER THE WIRE ONE IS IN MEXICO. So, is it correct to omit GETTING and still retain the meaning. Thank you!

 

[SoothingDave]

No. Either say "Go under the fence" or "Go through under the fence."

 

[alexandravujacic]

Is it not possible to start the sentence with a prepositional phrase? Or maybe the combination of two prepositions makes it sound awkward?

 

[alexandravujacic]

I also found this sentence, Through security and you are in the plaza. It seems pretty much like my query, save for the combination of two prepositions at the beginning of the sentence. Please, anyone to elaborate more on these examples. The query was coined by myself, but the example in bold was published by a native speaker of English. Thank you!

 

[Rover_KE]

It's the two prepositions at the beginning that make it incorrect.

Rover

 

[TheParser]

Is it not possible to start the sentence with a prepositional phrase? Or maybe the combination of two prepositions makes it sound awkward?

NOT A TEACHER

Hello,

I thought that you would be interested in this sentence that I found in a world-famous grammar book ***:

Out on the lake will be splendid.

That book explains that it may be an informal way to say:

A trip out on the lake will be splendid.


HAVE A NICE DAY!


***A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1985), page 736.

 

[Tdol]

Is it not possible to start the sentence with a prepositional phrase? Or maybe the combination of two prepositions makes it sound awkward?

You can, but that doesn't mean any phrase will work.

 

[Barb_D]

Up on the hill sat a sweet little cottage - that's fine. Parser's "out on the lake" is fine. Out from under the bushes charged a little chipmunk - look, there's three, and it's fine.

I'm having a hard time thinking of how to combine another preposition with "through." That word implies motion, which doesn't work well with another preposition.

 

[5jj]

?"though under that sign you'll find a timetable".

There's an implied 'there' after 'through'. I think that works in reply to the question, "Excuse me, where can I find the time of the next train to Reading?" especially if the person responding is pointing.

 

[alexandravujacic]

So, if we omit one of the prepositions e.g. THROUGH THE FENCE AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO; UNDER THE FENCE AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO will these two sentences be acceptable? Or is this one correct UNDER THE FENCE THROUGH AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO; THROUGH THE FENCE UNDER AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO?

 

[5jj]

So, if we omit one of the prepositions e.g. THROUGH THE FENCE AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO; UNDER THE FENCE AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO will these two sentences be acceptable?

Yes, informally.

Or is this one correct UNDER THE FENCE THROUGH AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO; THROUGH THE FENCE UNDER AND YOU ARE IN MEXICO?

No