0
SheltieBites Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Hold .... On

http://books.google.com/books?id=sj1zq1gq4d8C&pg=PA192&dq=%22held+the+flashlight+on%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QYFNT8KUDYi1hAfl5Mz-Dw&ved=0CGEQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22held%20the%20flashlight%20on%22&f=false
"Rose pulled while Lindy held the flashlight on Bill and the unconscious woman. "

Does it mean Bill was holding the flashlight?
  

Top answer

SheltieBites Does it mean Bill was holding the flashlight? No. Lindy held the flashlight (so that its light shone) on Bill (and the woman), and Rose pulled.

— CalifJim

  • SheltieBites Does it mean Bill was holding the flashlight?
  • No.
  • Lindy held the flashlight (so that its light shone) on Bill (and the woman), and Rose pulled.
  • CJ
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
SheltieBitesDoes it mean Bill was holding the flashlight?
No. Lindy held the flashlight (so that its light shone) on Bill (and the woman), and Rose pulled.

CJ
0
0
"She aimed the flashlight on them."
"She pointed the flashlight on them."

Could these be correct as well?
0
0
SheltieBitesCould these be correct as well?
No. aim at, point at.

CJ
0
0
Thanks CJ!

So, it is "aim..at", "point..at", "hold...on", and never "hold...at"?
0
0
SheltieBitesSo, it is "aim..at", "point..at", "hold...on", and never "hold...at"?
There are so many combinations that it is impossible to list them all.

We can't say "never". For example, you might hold something at a distance.

And you can use "point to". He pointed to something on the map. / He pointed at something on the
0
0
CalifJim SheltieBitesSo, it is "aim..at", "point..at", "hold...on", and never "hold...at"?There are so many combinations that it is impossible to list them all.We can't say "never". For example, you might hold something at a distance.And you can use "point to". He pointed to something on the map. / He pointed at something on the map.And you can use "aim toward". He aimed
0
0
SheltieBitesNarrowing the scope slightly, could this:

"She held the flashlight at them."
be acceptable
No, I'm afraid not.

You hold a flashlight on someone.

Also,

You hold a gun on someone.

(I know these are all strange, but that's the way they work.)
0

Related Questions