Use of 'onto'

Question

Hi all!A familiar sight on council clean-up days in Australia is that of outmoded personal computers, monitors and VCRs. Many households are ________ their second or third generation of computer and, according to Environment Australia, are sending more technology trash to landfills than big business.A. one ofB. nowC. ontoD. alreadyThe answer is B. What does 'onto their second or third generation' mean?Why are 'already' and 'now' incorrect?Thank you!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousWhat does 'onto their second or third generation' mean?

The idea is that people move on; they go from one thing to another. 'on' connotes continuation, possibly through various steps in a progression of actions. You have to move on (keep on going) in the world of technology or you'll be left holding obsolete devices.

You move from one generation of equipment on to (onto) the next generation. First you are on (using) the first generation. Then you are on (using) the second generation. And so on.

The same is true for a series of steps in a procedure. Suppose you have five steps to do in order to accomplish some task. I can ask you which step you are on. Maybe you are just starting and you are on the first step. Maybe you are almost finished and you are on the fifth step.

Many households are onto their second or third generation means Many households have moved on from using the first generation equipment and have moved to using second or third generation equipment.
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AnonymousWhy are 'already' and 'now' incorrect?

They are only adverbs that do not affect the basic equative sentence. If you don't have a preposition of some kind in there, you are simply saying Many households ARE their second or third generation of computer. A household cannot be a computer no matter what generation of computer it is.

CJ

Use of 'onto'

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