The aisle

Question

the seats are on the aisle.  Orthe seats are in the aisle.Thanks!

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

in

Pleasehelp · Answer

dimsumexpressin

Shouldn't it be seats on the aisle?

BarbaraPA · Answer

On.
I prefer to sit on the aisle.
Without doubt.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

I always believe there is no set-in-stone rules on prep usage. One mus tconsider the context in which a prep is used. In general, "in the aisle..." is most common.

If you refer to seats on a double-decker bus- I would say "seats on both sides of the aisle..."is correct.

But if you are in a supermarket and you ask the clerk: "where do you keep the cereals?" ,chances are ,he would say "in aisle 3". Not on.

Khoff · Answer

dimsumexpress One must consider the context in which a prep is used. In general, "in the aisle..." is most common.

I agree that context is important, but I disagree that "in the aisle" is more common that "on
the aisle" They mean different things. A seat adjacent to the aisle in a theater, auditorium, stadium or airplane is definitely "on the aisle." If you say "I'd like to sit in the aisle," you will probably be told that fire regulations prohibit anyone sitting in the aisle.

In a grocery store you might hear either in or on aisle 4 -- but the items in grocery stores are not sitting in seats.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

This may shed some light ...http://www.nieworld.com/teachers/brightideas/win0009.htm

Bright Ideas Lesson PlansIdentifing Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Objective: Students will be able to identify prepositions and prepositional phrases as well as begin to write their own newspaper article.

To begin the lesson, I took a small animal (named Preppy), and had students gently toss him around the room. I then asked students where Preppy had landed. They inevitably said, "On the desk, in the aisle, behind the table," etc. Each time they responded, I wrote the prepositional phrase on the board. This works great because anywhere Preppy lands is a preposition.

After naming many prepositions and prepositional phrases, I grouped the students into pairs and gave each group a newspaper and highlighter. Each group selected one of two previously chosen articles, and the students highlighted 20 prepositional phrases from that article.

Next, we went over what type of questions prepositional phrases answer (who, what, when, where, why, and sometimes how). Explain that newspaper journalists often use prepositions in order to write detailed articles.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Hi Khoff,

Thanks for your reply. Perhaps I have overstated my point. But I also made another the point:"But if you are in a supermarket and you ask the clerk: "where do you keep the cereals?" ,chances are ,he would say "in aisle 3". Not on".

I know it is a debatable answer to give to a simple question. Besides the context, it also depends on how one preceives an "aisle". Doesn't it? In the context of supermarket, the item one is looking for could be thought of as "stocked on the selves in Aisle 3". Does this sound more reasonable?

BarbaraPA · Answer

Okay, before we go any further, do you agree that the seats are "on the aisle," or do you wish to continue to refute this?

Yes, of course "in the aisle" is used -- in other contexts. Not the original one in this thread.

Khoff · Answer

Sorry, I don't feel that the "Bright Ideas Lesson Plan" sheds much light on the original question -- which was "the seats are on/in the aisle." A sutffed toy may be lying in the aisle, but seats in described as on the aisle -- unless you bring in your own chair and place it in the aisle, in which case you will certainly be asked to move it!

Dimsumexpress · Answer

I won't refute any further on this prep question. After some net surfing, I came to this conclusion. I can picture "seats by the asile" and "seats on both sides of the asile. But somehow, I have problem seeing a seat on the asile or in the asile. Though,I can see someone standing in the asile of an airplane, blocking the traffic. Anyhow, It's not a big deal and I won't lose sleep over it!

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