Tengo un problema con in the list y on the list y he pensado en los amigos de este café. Ejemplos:
–If the item that you require is not in/on the price list, please contact us. (Si el producto que necesita no está en la lista de precios, por favor, contacte con nosotros).
–I’m in/on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. (Estoy en la lista de espera para un transplante de riñón).
–It wasn’t in/on the shopping list that you gave me. (Eso no estaba en la lista de la compra que me diste).
On es la única preposición que se da en algunos diccionarios para la frase «está en la lista». Del Oxford Dictionary:
list
no estás en la lista
you’re not on the list
Algo o alguien is on/in the list. ¿Quizás el matiz sea que on signifique que está apuntado (on) e in que está dentro de la lista? ¿O in es totalmente imposible (aunque he podido ver que lo usan por Internet)? ¿Será una diferencia entre inglés británico y americano? Me encantaría saber cuándo usar in o on en casos como estos. ¡El uso acertado de las preposiciones es de lo más difícil, en todos los idiomas!
Gracias por adelantado y saludos cordiales para todos.
Hello monic!
So, as I use the expression(s) I would give the following examples.
My wife’s name is on the list. (general statement with no emphasis)
My wife’s name better be in that list! She is the president of the organization, for God’s sake!! You’d better find it and quick or there will be hell to pay! (statement expressing frustration; searching for a specific item; I would certainly accept «on» here as well)
The message is hidden in the list. (to me, «in» is the only correct choice here)
Her name is included on the/a list. (this is the normal, unstressed way of expressing the idea)
Thank you for all the examples, Gerardo!
Have a good day.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen !
Long long time ago, I called for the abolition of prepositions, but nobody listened to me! 😉
Cheers.
Ha ha, Madri. I sympathise. I think most students and teachers of English (myself included) would support your motion, but only after the abolition of «phrasal verbs»!
However, we would lose thousands of nuances that are quite unique. Así que, ¡a aguantarse!
So, we’ll continue to suffer. What a pity!
Hello everyone!
Yes, prepositions are tough but phrasal verbs are hell for non-native speakers. Anyway, I think that the best way to master prepositions is by reading and listening to native speakers, and I believe we learn by using them. I have to say this is all fun for me!
I’d need some clarification, please. Gerardo, then you don’t usually use included in the list and I understand you’d only accept in here if you were to put some stress on it. And what about you, Nibbles? I assume included in the list is possible and I remember hearing it and using it, but I’m not a native speaker. I’m actually asking mainly because I don’t want Monic and the others to get the wrong information. Thanks a lot, guys.
Cheers.
Yes, Blasita, I think I would use «included in the list» most of the time, if not always. I say «I think» because when I go over things too many times and try to find reasons for it all, there comes a moment when I’m no longer sure what I’d really say in normal conversation. (I have been known to adamantly state «I could never say X» and then caught myself saying it the very next day!)
I admit I can be one of those too.
Many thanks for your reply, Nibbles. Have a nice weekend.
¡Gracias otra vez a todos! Me habéis ayudado mucho.