Alongside

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Liveinjapan

#471294 Fri, 01 Feb 08 01:02 AM

Six candidates are sitting alongside each other at a long rectangle table facing the same direction.
Six candidates are sitting at a long rectangle table alongside each other facing the same direction.
Six candidates are sitting at the same side of a long rectangle table facing the audience.

Are they correct and natural to say?

Thanks
LiJ

Liveinjapan

Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007

Osaka, Japan

Contributing Member (1,770)

Please feel free to correct any words I wrote.LiJ

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Grammar Geek

#471297 Fri, 01 Feb 08 01:11 AM

The first one is redundant. If they are all on the same side, they are alongside each other.

The order of the second one is just off to my hear. I prefer to have the "alongside each other" right next to "sitting."

The third one is the best.

Note, though, that you should say rectangular table, not rectangle table.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (16,078)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Clive

#471299 Fri, 01 Feb 08 01:12 AM

Hi,

'Beside' is more natural here than 'alongside'.

Six candidates are sitting beside each other at a long rectangle table, all facing in the same direction.
Six candidates are sitting at a long rectangle table beside each other, all facing in the same direction.

Six candidates are sitting at the same side of a long rectangle table, and facing the audience. (it's the candidates who are facing the audience, and not the table.

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,492)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

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Liveinjapan

#471302 Fri, 01 Feb 08 01:33 AM

Thank you very much, GG and Clive. Smile [:)]

Liveinjapan

Yoong Liat

#471517 Fri, 01 Feb 08 03:07 PM

Clive wrote:

Hi,

Six candidates are sitting alongside each other at a long rectangle table facing the same direction.
Six candidates are sitting at a long rectangle table alongside each other facing the same direction.
Six candidates are sitting at the same side of a long rectangle table facing the audience.

'Beside' is more natural here than 'alongside'.

Six candidates are sitting beside each other at a long rectangle table, all facing in the same direction.
Six candidates are sitting at a long rectangle table beside each other, all facing in the same direction.

Six candidates are sitting at the same side of a long rectangle table, and facing the audience.

Hi Clive

Six candidates are sitting beside each other at a long rectangle table, all facing in the same direction. (Is 'in' required or optional?)

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,093)

Yoong Liat

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Clive

#471561 Fri, 01 Feb 08 04:56 PM

Hi,

Six candidates are sitting beside each other at a long rectangle table, all facing in the same direction. (Is 'in' required or optional?)

It's often omitted in everyday speech, but if you want to write or speak carefully, use 'in'.

Clive

Dates

Yoong Liat

#471563 Fri, 01 Feb 08 05:03 PM

Thanks, Clive.

Yoong Liat

Yankee

#471590 Fri, 01 Feb 08 06:18 PM

Liveinjapan wrote:
Six candidates are sitting on the same side of a long rectangle table, facing the audience.

Hi LiJ

The change of wording in Sentence 3 would probably lead me to use the preposition 'on' rather than 'at'. In addition, I would prefer a comma after the word 'table' in Sentence 3. Otherwise, it sounds as if you mean that the table is facing the audience.

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,299)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Dates, Prepositions, Commas

Liveinjapan

#471761 Sat, 02 Feb 08 09:17 AM

Yankee wrote:
Liveinjapan wrote:
Six candidates are sitting on the same side of a long rectangle table, facing the audience.
Hi LiJ

The change of wording in Sentence 3 would probably lead me to use the preposition 'on' rather than 'at'. In addition, I would prefer a comma after the word 'table' in Sentence 3. Otherwise, it sounds as if you mean that the table is facing the audience.

I understand. Thanks, Amy. Smile [:)]

Liveinjapan

Dates, Prepositions, Commas