ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Alongside

Liveinjapan — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 09:17:17 GMT

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.

Re: Alongside

Yankee — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:18:57 GMT

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.

Re: Alongside

Yoong Liat — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:03:32 GMT

Thanks, Clive.

Re: Alongside

Clive — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:56:58 GMT

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

Re: Alongside

Yoong Liat — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:07:27 GMT

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?)

Re: Alongside

Liveinjapan — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:33:37 GMT

Thank you very much, GG and Clive.

Re: Alongside

Clive — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:12:22 GMT

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. (it's the candidates who are facing the audience, and not the table.

Clive

Re: Alongside

Grammar Geek — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:11:53 GMT

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.

Alongside

Liveinjapan — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:02:33 GMT

Are they correct and natural to say?

Thanks
LiJ