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right choice of words ?

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Hela  #423711  Wed, 26 Sep 07 08:19 AM

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me if my sentences are correct?

1) Some students live on University campus.

Do we need to put a capital “U” to “university” here? If yes, why?

2) a) We had a really good time at your place...  

b) We really had a good time... (?)  (where should I put the adverb ?)

c) We had a real good time... (correct ?)  

d) We enjoyed ourselves immensely at your place / house (are they the same ?) last weekend.

3) We spent a week in / on (?) Corfu. (what shall I say, and why ?)

 

4) The company has a plant / factory in Ireland.  (are they the same ?)

 

5) I had to change train in / at (?) Birmingham.  (what shall I say, and why ?)

6) We used to live in a small area / place (?) called Eastwood. (are they the same ?)

Thank you in advance for your explanations.

Hela 
  
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Mister Micawber  #423745  Wed, 26 Sep 07 09:13 AM

1) Some students live on the university campus.

2) a) We had a really good time at your place...  -- OK

b) We really had a good time... -- OK

c) We had a real good time... -- Casual but OK

d) We enjoyed ourselves immensely at your place / house  last weekend. -- In this situation we expect that place = house

3) We spent a week on Corfu.-- It's an island

4) The company has a plant / factory in Ireland. -- the same

5) I had to change trains at Birmingham. -- it is a point on the train line.  However, 'in' occurs with regularity because the speaker may be picturing him/herself within the city.

6) We used to live in a small area / place called Eastwood.-- Synonymity depends on what 'Eastwood' is.
  
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Cool Breeze  #423771  Wed, 26 Sep 07 10:33 AM
 Mister Micawber wrote:

3) We spent a week on Corfu.-- It's an island


Hi MM

I don't object to on Corfu. It's quite a big island and therefore in Corfu is also very common, perhaps more common than on Corfu.

CB
  
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Mister Micawber  #423823  Wed, 26 Sep 07 01:10 PM

Right you are, CB.  How odd.
  
Cool Breeze  #423838  Wed, 26 Sep 07 01:56 PM
 Mister Micawber wrote:

Right you are, CB.  How odd.


Well, it may seem odd in faraway Japan, MrM.Smile [:)] The truth is that I've never heard a Brit holidaying in Majorca say he/she is on Majorca. Not that I would consider it wrong. Live and let live!

CB
  
Feebs11  #423844  Wed, 26 Sep 07 02:22 PM
Similarly, I have never heard someone say "I was in the Isle of Wight last weekend" or "I spend my holiday in the Channel Islands". I feel like Mr M that "on an island" is better.
  
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Mister Micawber  #423856  Wed, 26 Sep 07 02:53 PM

I've never heard a Brit holidaying in Majorca say he/she is on Majorca.

Yes, it seems to have a good deal to do with whether the speaker is actually on the island or at a distance from it when speaking.
  
Cool Breeze  #423862  Wed, 26 Sep 07 03:13 PM
 Feebs11 wrote:
Similarly, I have never heard someone say "I was in the Isle of Wight last weekend" or "I spend my holiday in the Channel Islands". I feel like Mr M that "on an island" is better.

Feebs, I agree with you completely. I haven't tried to say what is 'better', I have just said what I have heard people say. I always say on an island, not in an island. However, actual usage varies a great deal. The bigger the island is, the more likely at least some people are to use in. Also, if an island is a country, in is usually used: He lives in Japan. He lives in Malta. Should anyone prefer on Japan, I am the last person to object!Smile [:)]

Cheers
CB
  
Mister Micawber  #423868  Wed, 26 Sep 07 03:23 PM

Unfortunate choice, CB-- Japan is a country but not an island.  I live on Honshu in Japan.

(Being 'in faraway Japan' does have its advantages, you see.)
  
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