dream

Question

He's probably drooling over a cake in his dream/dreams.Which is correct?Thanks.

Optilang · Accepted Answer

New2grammarHe's probably drooling over a cake in his ~~dream~~/dreams.

Which is correct?
Thanks.

..... in his dream - if you were describing somebody who is asleep and you presume that they are dreaming about a cake. Perhaps they are dribbling in their sleep!

Either can work depending on context.

New2grammar · Answer

I still don't see the difference. Could you try to describe the difference?

Optilang · Answer

New2grammarHe's probably drooling over a cake in his dream/dreams.

Which is correct?
Thanks.

Hi. Sorry for the delay in replying – busy day.

Here are my interpretations:

He's probably drooling over a cake in his dream. – I see two possibilities here

1) The speaker is watching him sleep and, perhaps because the person asleep is dribbling, he presumes that he is dreaming about a cake.

2) The speaker is not present, but presumes the other person is asleep somewhere dreaming about a cake at this moment.
One dream.

He's probably drooling over a cake in his dreams.

1) The speaker presumes that the other person dreams about a cake when he sleeps, The other person may not be asleep when the speaker said this. It may be a temporary situation.
More than one dream.

He's probably drooling over a cake, in his dreams.

In his dreams = wishful thinking/he should be so luck/he has no chance.

Perhaps his family have banned him from eating cakes, and they know he would do anything to eat one, but no matter what happens, they will not let him have one.

New2grammar · Answer

Great explanation and they are really clear. There's only one interpretation that I don't quite understand. Here it's

optilangHe's probably drooling over a cake in his dreams.

1) The speaker presumes that the other person dreams about a cake when he sleeps, The other person may not be asleep when the speaker said this. It may be a temporary situation.

"He's probably drooling " is continuous, thus, ongoing. I don't see how it can apply in general. In other words, I think the guy is sleeping when the speaker says this. It's hard to understand. But if you can't explain because of idiomacy, I totally understand. Thanks a lot, Optilang!

Optilang · Answer

New2grammarGreat explanation and they are really clear. There's only one interpretation that I don't quite understand. Here it's
optilangHe's probably drooling over a cake in his dreams.

1) The speaker presumes that the other person dreams about a cake when he sleeps, The other person may not be asleep when the speaker said this. It may be a temporary situation.
"He's probably drooling " is continuous, thus, ongoing. I don't see how it can apply in general. In other words, I think the guy is sleeping when the speaker says this. It's hard to understand. But if you can't explain because of idiomacy, I totally understand. Thanks a lot, Optilang!

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that it is a general situation. I see it more as a temporary situation that is not happening precisely at this moment, but is happening around the time of speaking.

What is he doing these days?

He is studying in Paris.

New2grammar · Answer

<img src="http://www.EnglishForward.com/emoticons/emotion-1.gif"/>I see. Thanks, Optilang!!

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