Think of a number FROM 1 to 10... (from/between)

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Kooyeen

#356298 Thu, 26 Apr 07 10:32 PM

Hi,
I'd like to know if "from" is used this way:

Think of a number from 1 to 10. (Should I only say "a number between 1 and 10"?)
In that bomb there is from 10 to 50 kilograms of TNT. (... there is between 10 and 50 kilograms of TNT?)

Thanks Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (4,073)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

Numbers

Asell

#356299 Thu, 26 Apr 07 10:34 PM

the first sentence is correct.

The second one should be "In that bomb there is between 10 to 50 kilograms of TNT."

Asell

Joined on Wed, Apr 25 2007

Seattle, USA

New Member (10)

Numbers

Philip

#356305 Thu, 26 Apr 07 10:40 PM

Asell wrote:
the first sentence is correct.

The second one should be "In that bomb there is between 10 to 50 kilograms of TNT."

I would use 'and'.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,333)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Numbers

Kooyeen

#356322 Thu, 26 Apr 07 10:52 PM

Thank you.

How come the first is ok and the second is not?

Think of a number from 1 to 10. (Should I only say "a number between 1 and 10"?)
In that bomb there is from 10 to 50 kilograms of TNT. (... there is between 10 and 50 kilograms of TNT?)

Would anything change if I said...
In that bomb there could be from 10 to 50 kilograms of TNT.

I just don't understand why you can think of a number FROM 1 to 10, but the content of a bomb can't be FROM 10 to 50 kg of TNT...
Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Numbers

Anonymous

#356323 Thu, 26 Apr 07 10:53 PM

I wouldn't... -_- between 10 AND 50 indicates it's one or the other. TO indicates it is in that range.

Anonymous

Numbers

Philip

#356409 Fri, 27 Apr 07 02:57 AM

Choose a number from 1 to 10. [from~ to]

He weighs between 120 and 150 pounds. [between ~ and]

One or the other.....you may choose between chocolate and vanilla......or from chocolate and vanilla. Different from betwen/and.

Philip

Numbers

Kooyeen

#356628 Fri, 27 Apr 07 03:01 PM

Thank you,
..but could someone explain this and why some versions are not ok instead?

Think of a number from 1 to 10.
Think of a number between 1 and 10.

Choose a number from 1 to 10.
Choose a number between 1 and 10. (this should have two meanings: either 1 or 10, or any number between 1 and 10)

This soft drink contains from 1 to 10 milligrams of caffeine.
This soft drink contains between 1 and 10 milligrams of caffeine.

This soft drink could contain from 1 to 10 milligrams of caffeine.
This soft drink could contain between 1 and 10 milligrams of caffeine.

Any advice? I'm asking because in Italian both forms are possible, but I'm not sure in English they are used the same way. My dictionaries only consider the form "from x to y" whith verbs like "vary". Any Advice? Thank you again Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Verbs, Numbers

Philip

#356679 Fri, 27 Apr 07 04:29 PM

Kooyeen wrote:
Thank you,
..but could someone explain this and why some versions are not ok instead?

Think of a number from 1 to 10. o.k.
Think of a number between 1 and 10. o.k.

Choose a number from 1 to 10. o.k.
Choose a number between 1 and 10. (this should have two meanings: either 1 or 10 [for this meaning it should be: choose between 1 or 10], or any number between 1 and 10) o.k.

This sof drink contains from 1 to 10 milligrams of caffeine. o.k.
This soft drink contains between 1 and 10 milligrams of caffeine. o.k.

This soft drink could contain from 1 to 10 milligrams of caffeine. o.k.
This soft drink could contain between 1 and 10 milligrams of caffeine. o.k.

Any advice? I'm asking because in Italian both forms are possible, but I'm not sure in English they are used the same way. My dictionaries only consider the form "from x to y" whith verbs like "vary". Any Advice? Thank you again

"Or" is the operative word in the second pair of sentences.

Philip

Verbs, Numbers

Asell

#356757 Fri, 27 Apr 07 08:17 PM

This soft drink contains from 1 to 10 milligrams of caffeine.
I'm not exactly sure why, but we would never hear a native speaker say it like this. I wonder if there's some sort of rule about this. Anyway I think that: "Think of a number from 1 to 10." might be a special case.

from.... to         almost seems to me like it is emphasising what your choices are
between.... and      whereas this one seems to indicate simply that the amount could fall anywhere in this range

In most those sentences below I think that you would be better off not using from.... to    It doesn't sound right to me for some reason.

Asell

Numbers

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