Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

1.
I live *diagonally acros* City Hall.
Is that the right way to use it?

2.
She has this big city *alertness*.
What does that mean? She is aware of the dangers of living in a big city because she's experienced some of them?

Thanks

[CP]

1. I would say, "I live diagonally across from City Hall" or "I live catercorner from City Hall." Both mean on opposite corners, not just across the street. So you have to cross two streets to get from one (say, the northeast corner) to the other (the southwest).

2. She is on guard and alert all the time, as if danger is everywhere, the way you might become from living in a big city as opposed to a small town. She may or may not have experienced any danger herself.
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