IN or ON? The wonders of the English Language..sigh
B, my bro's 9 year old son was asked the following question during his recent English MCQ Exam:
She sat _____________ the rear seat of the car.
(1) in
(2) at
(3) on
(4) by
I chose answer (3) as I reasoned that one sits ON a seat. But the answer from the teacher was (1) IN!!! I believe the use of "ON" or "IN" is very much based on the context of the situation and the items involved, and that there are some situations where both could be acceptable. When questioned, the following was the teacher's reasoning:
"The correct answer to the question is 'IN'. (ref: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Pg 1477). This is due to a strict collocaton of words with respect to the word 'seat' that restricts it to the preposition 'in'. Incidentally, we also say that someone is shot 'in' the leg and not 'on' the leg." ....huh? say what??!!
Now, would you accept such an answer or for that matter, are convinced with the explanation given? More importantly, how do you simplify the explanation for a 9 year old boy?? Together with bro, I posed the above grammar question to some friends and here are the results (strangely, the reponses also provides a glimpse of how different man and woman think...I leave it to you to figure it out :-)):
A poll of 4 Female ENGLISH teachers:
1. "Depends on what you mean. Sit in the rear is better unless you want to emphasise the buttocks on the seat which would require sit on the rear. Technically "on" is accepted but practically and in popular usage it is sit "in" the rear seat. (it strays off here when this question was asked: "When did you find a p3 child i thought Ivor(my nephew) is Pri 6.)" CONCLUSION: "IN"
2. "In. Because the seat is 'in' something and therefore enclosed. At least that's my reason. (Again, here it strays off with the question: How are you?)" CONCLUSION: "IN"
3. "Longman's Dictonary of English Language & Culture gives examples that 'He sat down on/in the nearest available seat' as correct. Which means either also can. But they also go on further to say that 'She got into / sat in the front/back seat of the car' is also correct. So what does it tell me? Both also can. This means that the question is flawed. It has two answers." CONCLUSION: "IN" and "ON" are both correct.
4. "I prefer 'in' but the dictionary gave two varying uses : 'sat in the back seat of a car' and 'placed her bag on the back seat of a car'. Sounds like in is more correct. Incidentally it should be called the back seat and not the rear seat; to use rear, it should be 'she sat in the rear of the car'. I believe you sit in a seat but sit on a chair." CONCLUSION: "IN" but a little confused...
A poll of 5 MALE Colleagues (including bro):
1. "'ON'. You sit ON a seat....you don't sit IN a seat???" CONCLUSION: "ON"
2. "Hmmm 'ON'?". CONCLUSION: "ON"
3. "Definitely ON". CONCLUSION: "ON"
4. "'ON'. Good question to ask my wife". CONCLUSION: "ON"
5. " 'ON'. Why do you always get such questions?". CONCLUSION: "ON"
You might also like to check out the quiz on the following website (question number 5) that has a similar question as was set, but the answer given was "on".
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep1.htm
Is there somekind of rule that could be used, for example in spelling we say " 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' "? What do you say? Any suggestions?
As if the above is not confusing enough...bro sent me the following article... http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~mif8232/FeistGentner03.pdf
There is an actual article written about ON and IN!!
By the way, GodPa used the word "proletarian"during a meeting today!! And in case you are bored, try saying "authenticity" and "ethnicity" aloud and in the same breath. Have fun!!
She sat _____________ the rear seat of the car.
(1) in
(2) at
(3) on
(4) by
I chose answer (3) as I reasoned that one sits ON a seat. But the answer from the teacher was (1) IN!!! I believe the use of "ON" or "IN" is very much based on the context of the situation and the items involved, and that there are some situations where both could be acceptable. When questioned, the following was the teacher's reasoning:
"The correct answer to the question is 'IN'. (ref: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Pg 1477). This is due to a strict collocaton of words with respect to the word 'seat' that restricts it to the preposition 'in'. Incidentally, we also say that someone is shot 'in' the leg and not 'on' the leg." ....huh? say what??!!
Now, would you accept such an answer or for that matter, are convinced with the explanation given? More importantly, how do you simplify the explanation for a 9 year old boy?? Together with bro, I posed the above grammar question to some friends and here are the results (strangely, the reponses also provides a glimpse of how different man and woman think...I leave it to you to figure it out :-)):
A poll of 4 Female ENGLISH teachers:
1. "Depends on what you mean. Sit in the rear is better unless you want to emphasise the buttocks on the seat which would require sit on the rear. Technically "on" is accepted but practically and in popular usage it is sit "in" the rear seat. (it strays off here when this question was asked: "When did you find a p3 child i thought Ivor(my nephew) is Pri 6.)" CONCLUSION: "IN"
2. "In. Because the seat is 'in' something and therefore enclosed. At least that's my reason. (Again, here it strays off with the question: How are you?)" CONCLUSION: "IN"
3. "Longman's Dictonary of English Language & Culture gives examples that 'He sat down on/in the nearest available seat' as correct. Which means either also can. But they also go on further to say that 'She got into / sat in the front/back seat of the car' is also correct. So what does it tell me? Both also can. This means that the question is flawed. It has two answers." CONCLUSION: "IN" and "ON" are both correct.
4. "I prefer 'in' but the dictionary gave two varying uses : 'sat in the back seat of a car' and 'placed her bag on the back seat of a car'. Sounds like in is more correct. Incidentally it should be called the back seat and not the rear seat; to use rear, it should be 'she sat in the rear of the car'. I believe you sit in a seat but sit on a chair." CONCLUSION: "IN" but a little confused...
A poll of 5 MALE Colleagues (including bro):
1. "'ON'. You sit ON a seat....you don't sit IN a seat???" CONCLUSION: "ON"
2. "Hmmm 'ON'?". CONCLUSION: "ON"
3. "Definitely ON". CONCLUSION: "ON"
4. "'ON'. Good question to ask my wife". CONCLUSION: "ON"
5. " 'ON'. Why do you always get such questions?". CONCLUSION: "ON"
You might also like to check out the quiz on the following website (question number 5) that has a similar question as was set, but the answer given was "on".
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep1.htm
Is there somekind of rule that could be used, for example in spelling we say " 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' "? What do you say? Any suggestions?
As if the above is not confusing enough...bro sent me the following article... http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~mif8232/FeistGentner03.pdf
There is an actual article written about ON and IN!!
By the way, GodPa used the word "proletarian"during a meeting today!! And in case you are bored, try saying "authenticity" and "ethnicity" aloud and in the same breath. Have fun!!
rambled by Wobbler at 8:49 PM
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