On the wall, at the table but how to say ON or AT the surface of the shell?
Asked
Active
Viewed 1.1k times
2
-
On. Incidentally, at the table does not mean the same thing as on the table so it's not really an option. – Kristina Lopez Sep 22 '14 at 13:52
-
1You can be "on the surface of the frozen lake" or "at the surface of the ocean". I'd say if you're standing, your feet planted firmly on the shell, you're on the surface; if you can approach the shell from below as well as above, you're at the surface. – Dan Bron Sep 22 '14 at 14:04
-
What is the surface of a shell? – Preston Sep 22 '14 at 14:45
-
1The shell? Which one? Shell has a number of meanings. – John Lawler Sep 22 '14 at 14:46
-
See LINKED sidebar also . . . . – James Waldby - jwpat7 Sep 22 '14 at 14:54
1 Answers
3
Certainly both are correct, but on the surface implies floating on the water like a boat, and at the surface implies something has risen to the surface like a submarine .
Ernest Friedman-Hill
- 3,280