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There are three buildings along the same stretch of road next to one another. Lets call them Building A, Building B and Building C. Both the hearer and I are talking about Building B.

  • Building B is in the middle.
  • There is a driveway between Building A and Building B
  • There is a driveway between Building B and Building C

I would like to tell them about the driveways.

If I say

the driveways between the adjacent buildings

Does that make sense?

And if I were to say there are two driveways, should I say

There are driveways on either side of Building B

or

There are driveways on both sides of Building B

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  • Understanding "the driveways between the adjacent buildings" would depend on the context and how well the reader understands the layout, as well as how precise you need to be. A house could have multiple driveways; a driveway could serve one or more houses; the houses could be in a straight line or offset from each other. "Three houses separated by driveways" is fairly clear but doesn't explain everything (which driveway belongs to which house?). Adding a diagram would be useful (both to this question and your actual text.)
    – Stuart F
    Apr 16, 2022 at 15:03

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Are you sure you don't mean alleys?

Alley: a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.

vs.

Driveway: a road, especially a private one, leading from a street or other thoroughfare to a building, house, garage, etc.

To me, a driveway would connect to a specific building/location, whereas the concept of a passage/road between several buildings in a row more describes an alley. (Maybe this is a US English specific preference.)

To answer your questions:

The driveways/alleys between the adjacent buildings

The above makes sense.

There is a/an driveway/alley on either side of Building B

There is a/an driveway/alley on both sides of Building B

For both, I would make it singular, as you are talking about one on each side. I am being a pedant, but the reason is the plural form could indicate multiple driveways/alleys on either side.

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  • thanks. I'm referring to driveway as is a small private road. To clarify, by saying the driveways between the adjacent buildings the hearer will understand as there is a driveway on each side of Building B? There is a driveway between A and B, and a driveway between B and C?
    – Organic Heart
    Jul 30, 2019 at 5:40
  • Here's a shared driveway in the UK. There may be regional differences in meaning.
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Jul 30, 2019 at 6:24

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