"along" and "on"

Question

I have read an article that says the following sentence is grammatically wrong:

There is a small theater along the main street.

According to the article, The sentence should be: There is a small theater on the main street.

The article also says the following sentences are correct:

There is a mailbox somewhere along this street. / His office is just along the corridor. / You can find a theater along the street. / There are some theaters along the street./ The bathroom is just along (= a short distance along) the corridor.

There was an explanation about the difference between 'along' and 'on'. I am not convinced that the above sentence "There is a small theater along the main street" is wrong. Is what the article says correct? If so, why?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

HKman. Is what the article says correct?

Yes and no. People say it that way sometimes, but you should not. By the way, the Brits say that an address is "in" a street where an American would say "on", and each sounds just as weird to the other.

HKmanIf so, why?

Because "along" doesn't mean that. It carries implication of extension. The mailbox is somewhere along the street, meaning that if you proceed along the street, you will encounter it, but it is not along the street. Cars can be parked along the street.

GPY · Answer

"There is a small theater along the main street" seems OK to me (provided that "main street" is a descriptive phrase, and is not supposed to be proper name).

"along" and "on"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions