ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:27:05 GMT

Thanks, Yoong Liat.

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:28:00 GMT

New2grammar
OK. Thanks Yoong Liat. By the way, I think Americans tend to think of a street as a surface (area) while British think of it as a 3 dimensional object (volume), including the air above the street, which is why 'in' is more common in British English. Just a thought.

I don't think there is any reason why 'in' is usually used in BrE, while 'on' is used in AmE.

I think the more you analyse, the more you become confused. Just remember that it is collocation.

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:22:26 GMT

OK. Thanks Yoong Liat. By the way, I think Americans tend to think of a street as a surface (area) while British think of it as a 3 dimensional object (volume), including the air above the street, which is why 'in' is more common in British English. Just a thought.

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:16:13 GMT

Hi New2grammar

There are metered car parking spaces in St. Giles and in the surrounding streets. (This means that you should use ‘in … the streets’, not ‘on’.)

There were no cars around, and if there was a car in the street… (Here again ‘in’ is used.)

What I’ve found points to the fact that in BrE, ‘in the street/s’ is usually used, whereas the Americans would say ‘on the streets’. In my opinion, you shouldn’t be so analytical. Just remember which preposition to use in BrE and which should be used in AmE.

English is often not logical. It’s like spelling. Why should ‘receive’ be spelled this way? Why should it not be spelled ‘recieve’? I don’t think anyone can tell you the reason/s.

Best wishes.

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:19:39 GMT

Hi Yoong Liat, Actually, I was looking for an explanation instead of examples.

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:21:07 GMT

Hi New2grammar

I have the following information for you.

1. A car is parked at a metered parking space on/in a street.

There are metered car parking spaces in St. Giles and in the surrounding streets and car parks, but the centre of Oxford is often congested. ...
www.green.ox.ac.uk/about-the-college/how-to-find-us.html - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

In surveys carried out in Madrid it has been calculated that by eliminating one parking space in a street, travelling time equivalent to between 20 and 35 ...Snippet view - About this book - Add to my library - More editions

2. A man is standing on a sidewalk waving to his friend across the street. He's in/on the street. - Really neither as he is on the pavement, however you could say he is in the street, meaning in a particular street, not actually in the road. I was in Oxford Street doing some shopping.

3. A car is waiting for the light to turn green. It's in/on the street.

There were no cars around, and if there was a car in the street, they'd take the
bocci ball and break it right through the windshield. ...No preview available - About this book - Add to my library - More editions

4. A car is parked next to the sidewalk on a lawn of a house facing the street. It's on/in the street. The car is parked off the road/street

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:58:48 GMT

I wouldn't say that but doesn't sound wrong to me. Thanks, Yoong Liat. I'll create a thread for it. :)
Good night...Oh..good morning

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:54:41 GMT

I'll try my best tomorrow because it is about 6am NOW, and I should have been asleep. I believe you live in Malaysia and, like me, you go to bed late. Just for your information, we cannot say "We sleep late" if we mean we go to bed late.

Best wishes.

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:45:29 GMT

Yoong Liat
it's advisable to know the differences in usage between American and British English.

It sounds like you can justify Optilang's what seems like inconsistent choices to me. I really can't. If you do, could you share with me?

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:42:42 GMT

New2grammar
Thanks, Optilang. It's quite difficult to understand. I think American usage of preposition in these contexts is simpler. I think I have quite a good idea now.

I agree with you. The American versions are more logical and so easier to remember. However, it's advisable to know the differences in usage between American and British English. If you persevere, as I have done and am doing, you'll find that you have a better command of English.

Best wishes.

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:42:41 GMT

Thank you, Optilang.

Yoong Liat, I don't quite understand British usage. It's quite confusing because they use either onor in and the usage is very sensitive to context. While American usage is quite consistent in the sense that 'on' is almost always used, at least in these contexts..

Re: should/would

optilang — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:38:23 GMT

I'm broke. I'm going to live [in/on] the street.

I'm broke. I'm going to live on the street. A general phrase - to be on the street(s) - = to be homeless.

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:37:40 GMT

Hi New2grammar

I think you've a better picture now.

Best wishes.

Re: should/would

New2grammar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:35:03 GMT

Thanks, Optilang. It's quite difficult to understand. I think American usage of preposition in these contexts is simpler. I think I have quite a good idea now.

Re: should/would

optilang — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:33:14 GMT

There are lots of shops on/in Oxford Street.