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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Alongside

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.

Are they correct and natural to say?

Thanks
LiJ
  

Top answer

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.

— BarbaraPA

  • 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.
  • " The third one is the best.
  • Note, though, that you should say rectangular table, not rectangle table.
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8 Answers
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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.
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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 'alon
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Thank you very much, GG and Clive. Emotion: smile
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Clive
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.

'Bes
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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
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LiveinjapanSix 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
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Yankee
LiveinjapanSix 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
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