Prepositions "in" and "on"
Based on the grammar premise regarding how to use prepositions we all know that you use "in" when referring to something that is located inside both in a physical and in an abstract way. Same thing happens with "on", you use it when referring to the placement of an object on top of a surface. And here's my question how do you determine which one to use when the phrase doesn't give any clue? e.g. my son died in\on a car accident. Is there another rule that I'm unaware of?
Top answer
Non-literal preposition use in English is highly idiomatic and can be difficult or impossible to predict. Unfortunately in many cases you just have to learn individual patterns and collocations. When we connect people with situations or incidents in the manner of your example, we often use "in".
- Non-literal preposition use in English is highly idiomatic and can be difficult or impossible to predict.
- Unfortunately in many cases you just have to learn individual patterns and collocations.
- When we connect people with situations or incidents in the manner of your example, we often use "in".
- For example, someone could be "in a difficult situation", "hurt in an accident", "involved in an argument", and so on.
- In these cases we don't think of "in" as spatial, but, nevertheless, you may be able to get some sort of feel for why someone might be "inside" a situation rather than "on top" of it.
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Non-literal preposition use in English is highly idiomatic and can be difficult or impossible to predict. Unfortunately in many cases you just have to learn individual patterns and collocations. When we connect people with situations or incidents in the manner of your example, we often use "in". For example, someone could be "in a difficult situation", "hurt in an accident", "involved in an ar
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