collected stamps

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Vincent Teo  #505924  Sun, 27 Apr 08 05:31 AM

Can I say,

(a) He collected his stamps into the stamp album.

(b) He collected stamps from other countries.

(c) He collected many types of stamps.

  
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Clive  #505934  Sun, 27 Apr 08 05:50 AM

Hi,

Can I say,

(a) He collected his stamps into in the stamp album.

(b) He collected stamps from other countries.

(c) He collected many types of stamps.

Yes. You didn't tell me what you thought about my suggestion that you should try writing a paragraph.Smile

Best wishes, Clive

  
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Vincent Teo  #505937  Sun, 27 Apr 08 05:56 AM

Yes, your sugggestion is good. But, sometimes is quite hard to write in a short paragraph. I will try my best.Thanks!

About this sentence:

(a) He collected his stamps into in the stamp album.

Last time, the grammar expert adviced me to use "for the stamp album", but not "in the stamp album". What do you think?

  
New2grammar  #505954  Sun, 27 Apr 08 06:39 AM

Vincent, As far as I know, the use of preposition is pretty flexible and sometimes, they depend on the flow of your writing and what you prefer to express. I guess maybe that's a reason Clive suggests you write a short paragraph.

The key to learning prepositions, I think, is to understand their meaning in different contexts and not memorize what others tell you in one context and apply it to every context. Using the wrong preposition can be disasterous. For example, may not be a good example,

There's a spoon on your head

There's a spoon in your head.

They are both correct but if you do not provide a context, I would suggest you use 'on' but in some contexts, 'in' is the correct choice. I hope you understand me.

  
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Clive  #506064  Sun, 27 Apr 08 12:25 PM

Hi,

Yes, that's good advice from New2grammar, Vincent.

 He collected his stamps in the stamp album. Focuses on the idea that the album is the place that he put them.

 He collected his stamps for the stamp album. Focuses on the idea that he was building up, trying to complete, his collection. (ie it sounds a bit like the album wants/needs the stamps.Smile

In a real conversation or paragraph, you'd commonly omit the repetition of the word 'stamp', and you'd say 'his album'.

I recommend, again, that you try to write a paragraph, in order to give your sentences some context.

Best wishes, Clive

  
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