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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Please help    

Please help



vikral
India

Please help
 
Hi!

Are the following sentences correct?

I live in the hills.
I live on the hills.
I live on a hill.
I live in a hill.

Regards
Vikral

16 Nov 2011      





ozlemyagiz
Turkey

Hi Vikral! In my opinion, this sentence is correct: "I live in the hills" but you can also use "on the side of a hill".

16 Nov 2011     



ldthemagicman
United Kingdom

Dear Vikral,
 
a) I live in the hills.
b) I live on the hills.
c) I live on a hill.
d) I live in a hill.

In British English, not all of these would be regarded as �correct �. 

a) "You live in the city. He lives in the country-side.  She lives at the sea-side.  I live in the hills".  The region where I live has several geographical features. There is an area of my region which is �hilly � and has many hills, (which are not as large as mountains).  My house, my home, is in that area, and that is where I live.
 
b) "I live on the hills".  This would not normally be used.  It implies that I  �exist �, �I survive �, �I live � by eating and using the produce which I find living or growing on the sides of the hills in the hilly district.  A soldier, a fugitive or a trapper who is �living rough � might use this phrase, but it is not usual.
 
c) "You live in a flat area.  She lives in a valley.  I live on a hill".  My house is possibly on the side of a hill; or my street is not level, but is at an angle of (say) 30 degrees.  When I go home, I must either walk �uphill � or walk �downhill � to reach my house.
 
d) "I live in a hill".  Unless I am a rabbit, or an ant, or a burrowing animal or insect which lives underground, I would not use this expression.  Except in very rare circumstances, human beings do not "live in a hill".   
I hope that this helps.
 
Les

16 Nov 2011     



vikral
India

Hi ozlemyagiz & ldthemagicman

Thanks a lot.

Regards
Vikral

16 Nov 2011     



ruisleipa
Finland

Les - I think you �ll find that all of the sentences are grammatically correct, aren �t they? The last one is very uncommon, since there aren �t many hobbits around these days, as is b) but otherwise all of them can be used and be correct. Not sure I agree with your implication regarding b) either. Furthermore I would say that a) and b) have almost synonymous meanings, don �t you think?

18 Nov 2011