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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > A doubt    

A doubt



JMDe
Argentina

A doubt
 
I have a doubt with "opposite" and "in front of" as used for locations in a city. As far as I know you can use "opposite" when you want to express that two buildings are separated by a road, whereas "in front of" indicates that there is no separation between buildings or objects. building A may be in front of building B with no separation and thus building B is behind building A.  My real doubt is �can we use  "in front of" as a synonym of "opposite" in this sense? I �ve read a lot of grammar books and it seems that you can �t, but may be in different English speaking countries this may vary. What do you think?
 
Thanks.
JMDe

13 May 2009      





LuciaRaposo
Portugal

I believe you �re right...

13 May 2009     



zdeena
Denmark

Opposite is usually when 2 things are facing each other - so if the buildings for example have the front doors facing each other they are opposite each other. In front of would mean that the front door of the 2 buildings faces the same way, and so do not face each other.
Does this make any sense?? Wacko

13 May 2009     



Zora
Canada

To me, as a native, I would use both the same way... the only real difference to me is opposite always implies some distance between the two objects, buildings, or places...like a road, a small pathway, a square... whereas in front of is always closer, there doesn �t need to be any space...

I hope that helps. Smile   

13 May 2009     



JMDe
Argentina

Thanks a lot Lucia, zdeena and Zora for your replies! This is a wonderful site!!
 
Zora would you then teach "in front of" as a direct synonym of "opposite" using a map with children?
 
Thanks a lot!
 
JMDe

13 May 2009     



Zora
Canada

Yes, I most likely would (and do actually Wink)  keeping in mind that there needs to be distance between the objects.

Example. A bus stop is in front of a store but not opposite unless it �s on the other side of the street.

But saying - the bakery is in front of the post office OR opposite the post office - is the exact same thing to me.

Smile

13 May 2009     



JMDe
Argentina

Thanks a lot Zora! No more doubts!
 
I don �t usually write, but I do read the posts quite often and I notice you �re always there to help! Thanks a million!
 
JMDe

13 May 2009