Prepositions!!!

Question

Hi,I you watch something on TV, hear a song on the radio and hear something in a song, but...Do you see someone/something in or on a commercial on TV? In or on a program on TV?Do you hear someone/something in or on a commercial on the radio? In or on a program on the radio?I'd choose "on" in all of the above cases.Is someone/something in or on a commercial on TV? In or on a program on TV?Is someone/something in or on a commercial on the radio? In or on a program on the radio?I'd say "in" in these above. However, I know something or someone is on a show on TV or on the radio, for example...Anyway, I'm afraid there are no definite answers to this question... but it's difficult to choose! Thanks

Goodman · Accepted Answer

KooyeenHi,
I you watch something on TV, hear a song on the radio and hear something in a song, but...

Do you see someone/something in or on a commercial on TV? In or on a program on TV?
Do you hear someone/something in or on a commercial on the radio? In or on a program on the radio?
I'd choose "on" in all of the above cases.

Is someone/something in or on a commercial on TV? In or on a program on TV?
Is someone/something in or on a commercial on the radio? In or on a program on the radio?
I'd say "in" in these above. However, I know something or someone is on a show on TV or on the radio, for example...

Anyway, I'm afraid there are no definite answers to this question... but it's difficult to choose!
Thanks

He was playing a part In a car commercial.

She was on a children's television program.

Kooyeen · Answer

Hi GM,
hmm, sorry, but I don't think I understand...

Goodman · Answer

Kooyeen,

What I tried to say was, based on your questions about someone being in / on a program without additional context, it's "on TV", "on the radio", “on a program” but “in a show/ play/ concert“ .

CalifJim · Answer

Do you see someone/something in or on a commercial on TV? In or on a program on TV?
Do you hear someone/something in or on a commercial on the radio? In or on a program on the radio?
I'd choose "on" in all of the above cases.

Is someone/something in or on a commercial on TV? In or on a program on TV?
Is someone/something in or on a commercial on the radio? In or on a program on the radio?
I'd say "in" in these above. However, I know something or someone is on a show on TV or on the radio, for example...

Anyway, I'm afraid there are no definite answers to this question Yes there are. They're all above in red! ... but it's difficult to choose!

in a commercial / on a program

I saw her/it in a soap commercial.
She/It was on "That's the Truth", a new TV/radio program this season.
She's in two TV/radio commercials this year.
She's on two new TV/radio programs this year.

CJ

Pucca · Answer

Hello everyone!

Do you think I can ask another thing about prepositions? I've been doubting this for weeks, and, I know there is someone else doubting so here!

What is it? On/in The Canary Islands?

I think on should be the correct one since you are on an island, but, in the Canary Islands sounds well too, so, which one should be the correct one? What about 'at'?

Thanks in advance!

Goodman · Answer

In reference to "island", it's always "on". i.e. There are a lot of natural caverns on this island.

Pucca · Answer

Okay, got that, Thank you Goodman!<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Khoff · Answer

Okay, but what about "islands" (plural)? To me, "he spent a week in the Canary Islands" sound better if he was only on one of the islands. If you say "he spent a week on the Canary Islands" it sounds as though he was on all of the islands.

Kooyeen · Answer

Oh, thanks Jim, I really didn't know that!
Anita, I wanted to ask about that too, but since it was not related, I changed my mind. Anyway, the original sentence was something like this:

Are you still at/on/in the Canary Islands, on vacation?

I know "on" is used for "islands", but it didn't sound very good to me... not as good as "are you still on that deserted island?"

EDITED: by the way, I was wondering about other weird things you can see on TV... is it in or on an episode of a series? In or on a (TV) series? In or on an episode of a show? I would say "in". Can you think of other strange things like these that might cause me problems with prepositions? (I know it's "IN a movie", for example).
However, I'm not sure everyone agrees on what preposition to use. I'm pretty sure I've seen native speakers use "on" and "in" in very similar situations... I remember this short thread, for example:

Prepositions!!!

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