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Vushcm Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Between/among
Hello,
I've learn that 'between' goes w/ a pair of objects - 'among' w/ more than two.
However, I've seen the following sentences:
She listens to the conversation between A, B, C, and D.
Between A, B, C, and D, I like the tallest one.
Are the sentences correct?
Thank you,
VUSHCM
I've learn that 'between' goes w/ a pair of objects - 'among' w/ more than two.
However, I've seen the following sentences:
She listens to the conversation between A, B, C, and D.
Between A, B, C, and D, I like the tallest one.
Are the sentences correct?
Thank you,
VUSHCM
Top answer
Sometimes, even though there are more than two things, the kind of comparison suggested by the context requires taking them two at a time, and between is fine in those cases. The author of the first sentence was probably thinking in terms of A talks to B, B talks to A, A talks to C, C talks to A, B talks to D, D talks to B, and so on. The author of the second sentence was probably thinking in terms of comparing the heights of A and B, then of A and C, then of A and D, then of B and C, and so on.
- Sometimes, even though there are more than two things, the kind of comparison suggested by the context requires taking them two at a time, and between is fine in those cases.
- The author of the first sentence was probably thinking in terms of A talks to B, B talks to A, A talks to C, C talks to A, B talks to D, D talks to B, and so on.
- The author of the second sentence was probably thinking in terms of comparing the heights of A and B, then of A and C, then of A and D, then of B and C, and so on.
- In both sentences the consideration of pairs of elements allows between .
- CJ
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2 Answers
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Sometimes, even though there are more than two things, the kind of comparison suggested by the context requires taking them two at a time, and between is fine in those cases.
The author of the first sentence was probably thinking in terms of A talks to B, B talks to A, A talks to C, C talks to A, B talks to D, D talks to B, and so on.
The author of the second sentence was
The author of the first sentence was probably thinking in terms of A talks to B, B talks to A, A talks to C, C talks to A, B talks to D, D talks to B, and so on.
The author of the second sentence was
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Dear friend,
you are right in that, when two participants are involved, among is usually preferred to between.
However, when we speak of exact position, or of precise individual relationships, between is the only choice: a treaty between four European powers; Ecuador lies between Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. In your case, the meaning of '
you are right in that, when two participants are involved, among is usually preferred to between.
However, when we speak of exact position, or of precise individual relationships, between is the only choice: a treaty between four European powers; Ecuador lies between Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. In your case, the meaning of '
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