1 and 2 -- Think about this: Do people (pilots or passengers) go inside an airplane or sit on top of it? Use "in," please!!
3. "in the air" is a prepositional phrase being used to tell WHERE, so the prepositional phrase is being used as an adverb, modifying the verb "control." [A case could be made that this prep phrase is being used as an adjective, modifying "airplanes," but I lean toward the adverbial use.]
4. There is no real difference in meaning between 3 and 4, whether "the" is in there or not. That prepositional phrase still modifies "control."
In all these sentences, you need a comma after "that" and a comma after the first instance of "airplanes."
He thought that, by the year 2000, people could fly in personal airplanes, and flying police officers would control airplanes in the air.
1. He thought that by the year 2000, people could fly in personal airplanes and flying police officers would control airplanes in the air.
2. He thought that by the year 2000, people could fly "on" personal airplanes and flying police officers would control airplanes in the air.
(Can we use 'on' instead of 'in'? Which one is common?)
3. He thought that by the year 2000, people could fly in personal airplanes and flying police officers would control airplanes "in the air."
(What is the part of speech of "in the air"? Is it an adjective phrase or an adverbial phrase?)
4. He thought that by the year 2000, people could fly in personal airplanes and flying police officers would control "the" airplanes "in the air."
(Is this sentence the same as #3? If we put 'the' before 'airplanes', does 'in the air' modify 'the airplane'?)
2 answers
http://mentalfloss.com/article/51362/4-changes-english-so-subtle-we-hardly-notice-theyre-happening?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Partner&utm_campaign=FBK
This is an interesting article about the slow, long-term changes that have been taking place in English. You can be sure changes in grammar and vocabulary are happening in all languages over time. What's really interesting to me is how long some of these have been in their changing phase!
This is an interesting article about the slow, long-term changes that have been taking place in English. You can be sure changes in grammar and vocabulary are happening in all languages over time. What's really interesting to me is how long some of these have been in their changing phase!