English - rfvv Friday, March 16, 2018 at 3:07pm

Question

Thank you.

6. Dad is in front of the door.
7. Dad is in back of the door.
8. Dad is in the back of the door.
9. Dad is at back of the door.
10. Dad is at the back of thedoor.
[What about these sentences? Which ones are the opposite of Sentence 1? Do we have to use 'the' or not?]

• English - Writeacher Friday, March 16, 2018 at 3:08pm
With this phrasing, you would NOT use "the"!!

So 6 and 7 are the acceptable sentences here.

• English - rfvv Friday, March 16, 2018 at 3:19pm
9. Dad is at back of the door.
10. Dad is at the back of the door.

[I appreciate your help. What about #9 and #10?]

• English - Writeacher Friday, March 16, 2018 at 3:26pm
Neither of those is quite right.

Dad is in back of the door. (meaning he's behind it)
Dad is in front of the door. (meaning whoever else is in the room can see him there)

Using "the" is not correct for this particular concept.This is different from being in the front of the room (think of a classroom in which all the students are facing him) or in the back of the room (students still facing the front of the room, but he's now behind them).
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Thank you for your help. I'd like to sum up about what you have me know.

6. Dad is in front of the door. [O, before]
7. Dad is in back of the door. [O, behind]
8. Dad is in the back of the door.[X]
9. Dad is at back of the door. [Don't you use this form, instead of 'in back of'?]
10. Dad is at the back of the door. [Can't we us this form? Isn't 10 the same as #7?]

Answer 1

I think 10 is the same as 7, yes. Writeteacher is correct that #9 is not quite right. I do find #10 acceptable. I think it would be better to say that Dad is behind the door instead of in back of it or at the back of it.

Answer 2

Make no mistake, though, I'm sure Writeacher has a good reason for disliking #10. She's a fine English teacher. It's okay for us to disagree, though. :)