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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
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 You can be on a river without it being frozen.Yes, many possibilities with on in at. What do you say f.i.when you are in a boat? On the river? At the river? Is a boat sailing on the sea or at sea? When talking of sailors one says: they are at sea? We say 'op zee', 'on sea.'(that's the confusing thing) The song says: Sailing on the river on a Sunday afternoon. But a sailor is at sea.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Helen, thanks for this clear lay-out of the waterways round New York. Yet, when the world was young in 1979 I remember standing at the bank of the Hudson river (right in New York, west side), packed with drift-ice. And indeed it hurried amazingly fast towards the river mouth.Fascinating. That must have been a special cold winter.Temperatures lower than I had ever experienced at home. 
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Prepositions are funny things, Bran. Not only do they vary from language to language, but also within English itself: In the US you live on Main Street; in the UK you live in it. 
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
and we get on a plane but in a car.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Yes, they are AnnaS. We here live in a steet, on a Square or Lane (both of nobler substance) and on or at a quay (waterworld). Wish they had one preposition for all.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210 |
> Wish they had one preposition for all.
where would be the fun in that?
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
It is fun in? Not at or on? Sure? Are you making fun of me? And people can have fun at something. You're right! They are fun! We would f.i. miss the fun of this thread. We say fly with the plane. Just as illogical as on a plane. In it seems most logic. OK. They stay. And it is for us foreigners to make the mistakes.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210 |
> Are you making fun of me?
nope. with you.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
 happy end to the argument.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210 |
Quote:
happy end to the argument.
no argument there. 
formerly known as etaoin...
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Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
and at the New York Library you have to get on line to get on-line.
edit:
at ours you line up by getting in line to get on-line.
Last edited by Zed; 10/12/2006 10:43 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Quote:
and at the New York Library you have to get on line to get on-line.
edit:
at ours you line up by getting in line to get on-line.
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