Do these sentences have similar meanings?

Question

Hi teachers,Do these sentences have similar meanings? If not, could you suggest another one for 'in front of' in this case?a) On the table in fron of him, there was a dead flower.b) On the table ahead of him, there was a dead flower.Thanks in advance.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

They share the same meaning and are both correct, ignoring the typo (fron) in the former.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Aspara GusThey share the same meaning and are both correct, ignoring the typo (fron) in the former.

Hi,
Thank you for your reply and sorry for the typo.

TS

RandomGuy · Answer

Thinking Spain… and sorry for the typo.

No need! We al mkae the m!

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Aspara GusWe al mkae the m!

Suer w e od!

TS

Clive · Answer

Hi,

a) On the table in front of him, there was a dead flower.
b) On the table ahead of him, there was a dead flower.

To my mind. 'ahead' suggests that he is moving forward.
eg He may be in a line of people slowly moving past the table.

Clive

Tenacious Learner · Answer

CliveTo my mind. 'ahead' suggests that he is moving forward.
eg He may be in a line of people slowly moving past the table.

Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply. Then, could you suggest one for 'in front of' in that case?

TS

Clive · Answer

Hi,

With ''In front of me', I may or may not be moving forward.
eg I sat and looked at the exam paper in front of me.
eg I am going to pass the car in front of me.

Clive

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply.
I took 'ahead of' because of the definition at this dictionary:
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/ahead%20of
So, since it says that 'ahead of ' means in, at, or to a place before (someone or something), I thought it could fit.
In another place, the Wikipedia, I found that 'at' is a static preposition that normally does not involve movement.
In fact it says, 'A static adposition normally does not involve movement. Examples of these include at, in, on, beside, behind, under and above'.
Maybe that 'normally' instead of 'never involves movement' makes the change. Though I can't think of any examples where 'at' can indicate movement or direction. Anyway, I'm not a native speaker, so I'm sure that among definitions, there is a subtle difference that I can't see at all.

TS

Clive · Answer

Hi,
The point with 'ahead' is that I am moving. The person ahead of me may or may not be moving.

Consider this example.
I am walking towards Mary, who is standing beside a desk.
I am moving.
Mary is at the desk. She is not moving.
Mary is ahead of me.

Consider.
Tom and I are in a line in the classroom, moving slowly forward.
Tom is ahead of me.
Let''s watch Tom.
He is at the first desk.
Now he is at the blackboard.
Now he is at the teacher's desk.
He is still ahead of me.

Clive

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Clive,
Thank you very much for your examples. They're very clear.

TS

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