Hot answers tagged prepositions
5
The sentence you give should be:
"Haven't heard anything from you in a while."
or
"Haven't heard anything from you for a while."
No difference in meaning in this case, at least, not to my knowledge in American English, and not in my idiolect. But there would in these cases:
I'll give this to you in a while. [Not now, but maybe tonight or next ...
4
Both are grammatically correct. Which you should prefer depends on what you mean.
Lay on the bed would mean laying on top of it; on top of all the blankets, eiderdowns and spreads or whatever that the bed is covered by. If the person were tucked up underneath all these things they'd be generally said to be in the bed.
4
The distinction between for Duration and in Duration depends on where the Reference Time is. Reference time is an Instant in time, not a Duration; but Duration is measured from it.
In Duration refers to a time period Duration long that ends at the Reference Time
For Duration refers to a time period Duration long that begins at the Reference Time.
4
I'm trying to capture a vague idea floating in my head. Not sure I can explain adequately.
First off, both "in a while" and "for a while" are grammatical and idiomatic per se. However, to me, "for a while" would mean that their hearing from you is an ongoing process, which you interrupted for some time — or well, for a while —, but then resumed. ...
1
You could say I lay on the bed if it happened in the past and you did not get under the covers on it. You could say I lay in the bed if it happened in the past and you did get under the covers on it.
See these http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lie_1?q=lie and http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/lie_1
1
Let me think about this. This is a question of usage. My instinct says ...
I would NEVER say #3 "fine to you".
I might say #2 "fine by you" as to say: « in my opinion ».
I would say "fine with you" if it was with me personally. #1 seems to be a personal thing. #2 seems to be an opinion thing.
I could substitute #2 with "That be fine according to me." or ...
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