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Chenyincheng Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
"in a race" or "at the races"
Hi guys,
If I were in a game in which participants compete to run, do I say "I was in a race." or "I was at the races."?
I saw this dialogue in this EFL text book that I'm using to teach my students. There is an illustration which depicts the characters from the text book were competing to run. And in the dialogue, one of the characters said: We are at the races...... I am the first... He is the second...
I thought we say "in a race" instead of "at the races" in a situation like this, and "at the races" when we're in a place to watch horse races. I doubled checked with my dictionary and it also says "the races" means "an occasion when horse races are held". So what is this all about??
Thanks
If I were in a game in which participants compete to run, do I say "I was in a race." or "I was at the races."?
I saw this dialogue in this EFL text book that I'm using to teach my students. There is an illustration which depicts the characters from the text book were competing to run. And in the dialogue, one of the characters said: We are at the races...... I am the first... He is the second...
I thought we say "in a race" instead of "at the races" in a situation like this, and "at the races" when we're in a place to watch horse races. I doubled checked with my dictionary and it also says "the races" means "an occasion when horse races are held". So what is this all about??
Thanks
Top answer
Some thoughts about your questions. I guess "the races" is best thought of as a competition involving animals or cars. ) the context will tell you which.
- Some thoughts about your questions.
- I guess "the races" is best thought of as a competition involving animals or cars.
- ) the context will tell you which.
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3 Answers
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Some thoughts about your questions.
I guess "the races" is best thought of as a competition involving animals or cars. A race involving people as competitors is normally called a "track meet." Still, given a specific context you might call an event involving people "a race."
In general if you are competing you would say "I was in a race," if you are a spectator you would say "I
I guess "the races" is best thought of as a competition involving animals or cars. A race involving people as competitors is normally called a "track meet." Still, given a specific context you might call an event involving people "a race."
In general if you are competing you would say "I was in a race," if you are a spectator you would say "I
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I am the first; I am the second - these are also incorrect. They shouldn't have 'the'.
I think you need a different textbook.
I think you need a different textbook.
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Thanks for your answers. So the textbook is definitely wrong then?
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