Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

The driver also tried to run over a police officer, who was standing in the crosswalk.

Should I use "on" instead of "in" in front of a crosswalk?


They only went two blocks north to find that the SUV had come to a stop because it had rushed into a newspaper stand. The driver FELL heavily behind the steering wheel.

How come a driver fell behind the steering wheel when he is orginally sitting behind the steering wheel?

[dragn]

Hi Jason,

The original is correct--I would say the police officer was in the crosswalk, since the crosswalk is a two-dimensional area with a clearly defined interior and exterior.

If the driver of a vehicle fell behind the wheel, I would assume that means he was slumped forward with his chest on the steering wheel, presumably injured and/or unconscious. I've heard this idea expressed this way a number of times before. Using the adverb heavily just emphasizes that he fell with a degree of force or pressure.

You didn't ask about this, but it sounds very strange to say that a vehicle rushed into a newspaper stand. The vehicle might have hit/struck/ran into/crashed into/plowed into/careened into a newspaper stand--but it didn't rush into it. That's what we would say if a person walked or ran inside a building very quickly.

Ex. Sarah rushed into (or in to) 7-Eleven to grab a cup of coffee, even though she was running late.

Hope this helps.

dragn

[jasonlulu_2000]

It surely helps a lot.