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ESL forum >
Message board > which one is odd and why
which one is odd and why
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sajida44
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which one is odd and why
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by -behind -in- down
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2 Mar 2014
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MoodyMoody
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Down is the odd one out. If used as a preposition, it requires motion. The others can be stationary. |
2 Mar 2014
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alien boy
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by - it doesn�t have a vowel!
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2 Mar 2014
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alien boy
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behind - it�s the only word that isn�t a homonym!
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2 Mar 2014
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alien boy
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in - it�s the only preposition listed where you�re denoting something that must be within something else!
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3 Mar 2014
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douglas
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Down it �s not a state (generally) |
3 Mar 2014
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alien boy
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Prepositionally �by� isn�t always a state either. I feel it�s used more often to identify an agent performing an action or the means of achieving something than as a preposition of place. I thought �next to� edit: or �near� would be more common than �by� in standard Englishes.
So in some ways �by� is the odd one out because it isn�t always a preposition of place.
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3 Mar 2014
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sajida44
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so what �s right answer
or the question itself is wrong if teachers aren �t sure how can students answer this ?
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3 Mar 2014
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alien boy
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The most likely answer, I believe, is likely to be �down �, as detailed by moody moody & douglas.
However, if you provided more context to the question, it would be easy to give a more definite response.
The first 3 answers I gave were all given by English language students of mine (all upper elementary students), based purely on the question you provided. All of the answers could be considered correct because there is no context on which to base the most correct answer.
My fourth answer was just my musing about other aspects of prepositional use.
Regards,
AB
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3 Mar 2014
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sajida44
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thx all but the question is just like this ( find the odd one out )
I think it �s (down) too, i just wanted to make sure
thanks again
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3 Mar 2014
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alien boy
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Is it on a test? What have the students been studying? What level are the students? Are they
These are what I also mean by context, not just what the test question says.
I also believe it �s a very badly worded question because it �s too open to subjective interpretation.
Cheers,
AB
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3 Mar 2014
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