Throw the ball in the/an upward direction.

[NAL123]

Consider these sentences of mine please:

[Person A tells person B]
(1) Throw the ball in the upward direction.
(2) Throw the ball in an upward direction.

Which is grammatically correct? When do we say "an upward direction" and when "the upward direction"? Can I simply say "throw the ball up/upward"?

 

[5jj]

Neither of your first two sentences works. Say "throw the ball up".

 

[NAL123]

Neither of your first two sentences works.

OK. Consider these, please:

In a drawing class, the teacher tells a student:

(1) Extend that line in the upward direction.

(2) Extend that line in an upward direction.

Which sounds correct, and why, please?

Say "throw the ball up".

What about: throw the ball upward(s)?

 

[Rover_KE]

Neither is natural.

Say Extend that line upwards.

 

[SoothingDave]

Is there only one upward direction, or are there many? That answers your article question.

 

[NAL123]

Is there only one upward direction, or are there many? That answers your article question.

Could you please give me an example of an everyday utterance where native speakers would use "an upward direction" and "the upward direction"?

 

[Tarheel]

I don't say that every day. In fact, I might never have said that. There's up, and there's down, and there isn't much use for "upward direction". If you insist upon using it then go right ahead.

Did somebody tell you "upward direction" is used?

 

[tedmc]

Could you please give me an example of an everyday utterance where native speakers would use "an upward direction" and "the upward direction"?

"Upward" is itself a direction.

 

[SoothingDave]

Could you please give me an example of an everyday utterance where native speakers would use "an upward direction" and "the upward direction"?

In your mind is there exactly one "upward direction?" Or is there a family of upward directions?

Does one have to throw a ball exactly straight up (let's call it 0 degrees) or is it also "upward" if it is, say +/- 30 degrees from straight up?

What exactly do you mean?

 

[NAL123]

In your mind is there exactly one "upward direction?" Or is there a family of upward directions?

Does one have to throw a ball exactly straight up (let's call it 0 degrees) or is it also "upward" if it is, say +/- 30 degrees from straight up?

What exactly do you mean?

So if it is exactly straight up, ie, the vertically upward direction, then "the upward direction", but if it is at any other angle to a vertical line, then "an upward direction", right?
And if I wanted to extend an existing line (not vertical) upwards, it would be extending the line in an upward direction. Am I right

 

[SoothingDave]

No.

If there is more than one "upward direction" then any upward direction is "an" upward direction.

Is there more than one upward direction?

Please answer the question.

 

[NAL123]

No.

If there is more than one "upward direction" then any upward direction is "an" upward direction.

Is there more than one upward direction?

Please answer the question.

Suppose there's a line at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal. Now if I ask someone to extend it upwards, they would have to do so at that inclination, wouldn't they? Because there's only one possible upward direction in which that line can be extended (ie at 30 degrees).

If so, can I say extend the line in the upward direction?

 

[SoothingDave]

I'm not engaging with you until you answer my question.

 

[Tarheel]

We already had "up" and "down", which are already directions. There is no need to add "direction" to them.

 

[BobK]

Is there only one upward direction, or are there many? That answers your article question.

I detect a BE/AE difference. In BE upward/forward/backwards/towards... etc.
are adverbs.

 

[5jj]

Sorry.

In BE upward/forward/backwards/towards... etc. are adverbs.

Forward, backward, upward, downward can also be adjectives.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't see any difference. Upwards, downwards, forwards, backwards, sideways are, I think, the same in American English as in British English.

 

[BobK]

Sorry.

Forward, backward, upward, downward can also be adjectives.

Sorry; my typo. I meant all those "ward"s to have Ss.