Movies come in a wide array of genres. Some people consider road movies, youth movies, erotic films, sci-fi movies, musicals, and even dance movies as distinct genres. Indeed, dance as an element seems to have evolved through the ages, cementing its place as a component of culture.
The lineage from the late ’70s with ‘Saturday Night Fever (1977)’ through ‘Flashdance (1983)’ and ‘Footloose (1984)’ to ‘Dirty Dancing’ in 1987 illustrates this evolution.
The following is a line spoken by the protagonist Johnny (Patrick Swayze) towards the end of his vacation. He addresses Baby’s father, Mr. Houseman, pointing to Baby, who is sitting in a corner.
Johnny: Nobody puts Baby in a corner.
The expression “put A in a corner” from the example sentence “Nobody puts ‘Baby’ in a corner” is commonly interpreted idiomatically as “to scold A” or “to ignore A.” The verb ‘put’ is a transitive verb with the dictionary meanings of ‘to place’ or ‘to put.’ Therefore, when someone says “I put,” the immediate question that comes to mind is ‘what?’ In the sentence mentioned, Swayze specifies ‘Baby.’ The next question likely to arise would naturally be “where?” The example sentence provides further clarification with ‘in a corner,’ thus completing the sentence. It means that when the verb Put is used, the focus is on whom or what and then on the location.
One Pattern Sentence Order
S + V + (Who + What) + [Where + Why + How + When]
To express the ‘where’ component clearly, remember that in our structured sentence format, known as One Pattern Sentence Order, there is a specific place for adverbs within the second set of brackets [ ]. This spot is exclusively meant for adverbial phrases, which are key to providing details about location, among other things. It’s essential to choose the right adverbial expressions and place them accurately in this designated area. By doing so, we efficiently communicate the location aspect of a sentence.
| S | V | Who | What | Where | Why | How | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noun Zone | Verb Zone | Noun Zone (Adjective) | Adverb Zone | ||||
| Nobody | puts | Baby | in a corner. | ||||
| I | think about | it | tomorrow. | ||||
Therefore, if there are adverbs that signify the place you want to express, you just need to place that adverb in its position. The commonly used adverbs include here, there, right, left, and home, among others. For instance, home is usually a noun but can also be used as an adverb.
ETHAN EDWARDS: Let’s go home, Debbie. <THE SEARCHERS, 1956>
COL. MIKE KIRBY: Out here, due process is a bullet. <THE GREEN BERETS, 1968>
But what if there isn’t an appropriate adverb available? This too is simple. Just as we can create adverbs by attaching a particle to a noun in Korean, in English, adverbs can be formed by attaching a preposition to a noun. Fortunately, there are expressions that have been used for a long time and have become words in their own right, such as upstairs, downstairs, abroad, overseas, downtown, ahead, back, forward, and backward.
Unfortunately, if you can’t find a suitable word of this kind, you must create the adverb you wish to express yourself using prepositions. Let’s list a few important prepositions that can create adverbs of place.
Table of Contents
The preposition ‘at’ is a point preposition:
There are many prepositions indicating place, which can even be confusing. Therefore, let’s assign a nickname to each important preposition to indicate its characteristic use. Let’s call the preposition ‘at’ the ‘point preposition’ because it is used when representing something as a “point,” regardless of its size. Hence, ‘at’ indicating a place represents purely the location without concern for its area.
In the movie Broadcast News (1987), broadcast journalist Jane and her colleague Aaron have the following phone conversation.
Jane: I just found out. You didn’t say anything to me. You just resign? Will you meet me now?
Aaron: Oh, no, I can’t. Maybe next week, I got —
Jane: No. I’m going away tomorrow. Please!
Aaron: All right, I’ll meet you at the place near the thing where we went that time.
Jane: OK, I’ll meet you there. <BROADCAST NEWS, 1987>
Aaron’s dialogue may resemble the vague expressions “this and that” found in the Korean movie ‘Hwangsanbeol’. However, both characters clearly understand their meeting location. In this context, ‘at’ denotes a precise location. While ‘at’ can refer to broad areas like cities, it primarily signifies a specific spot. Furthermore, ‘at’ retains this significance of indicating a particular point when combined with verbs, as seen in the instruction ‘Look at’, which directs attention to a specific object.
JERRY: Look at that! Look how she moves. <SOME LIKE IT HOT, 1959>
If there were a word opposite to the point preposition ‘at’, it would be ‘around’ and ‘about’, meaning ‘nearby’ or ‘approximately’.
FERRIS BUELLER: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. <FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF, 1986>
John Keating: Now, don’t just walk off the edge like lemmings! Look around you! <Dead Poets Society>
The Preposition ‘On’ for Surfaces:
If ‘at’ signifies a point, then ‘on’ represents a surface. Specifically, ‘on’ conveys the notion of being in contact with a surface.
Charlie: What I said about being on the road with you I meant. Connecting. I like having you for my brother. <RAIN MAN>
Interestingly, when referring to ‘on the street’ or ‘on the road,’ Americans use these phrases, while in the UK, it’s common to say ‘in the street.’ Similarly, Americans use ‘on’ before street names, and British people use ‘in.’
The preposition “on” denotes contact with a surface. It implies a physical connection, such as something resting on or touching a surface. This concept is used metaphorically in phrases like “on air” to indicate broadcasting or “on board” to signify participation or presence inside a vehicle. Additionally, “on” conveys ongoing actions or states, as seen in expressions like “continuing” or being “turned on”.
ELWOOD BLUES: We’re on a mission from God. <THE BLUES BROTHERS, 1980>
‘Look on’ embodies the concept of observing an entire side. It’s not merely looking, but looking at a specific aspect. Phrases like “look on the dark side of things” or “look on the sunny side of things” suggest viewing things pessimistically or optimistically, respectively.
Danny: Let’s look on the bright side. We’re not gonna worry about sharks. <CSI NY: You Only Die Once>
Therefore, the opposite of ‘on,’ implying separation, could be considered ‘off.’
MR. MIYAGI: Wax-on, wax-off. <THE KARATE KID, 1984>
The Preposition ‘In’ for Three-Dimensional Spaces:
While ‘at’ is for points and ‘on’ for surfaces, ‘in’ indicates three-dimensional spaces, specifically the interior of a space.
CAPT. JEFFREY T. SPAULDING: One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know. <ANIMAL CRACKERS, 1930>
“How he got in my pajamas” could translate directly to “how the elephant got into my pajamas,” but the intended meaning is “how it ended up wearing my pajamas.” Either way, it’s clear the elephant is within the pajamas. ‘In’ is not just used for small spaces like pajamas but also for relatively large places or areas like countries or cities.
Steven Spielberg: The time when there was no kindness in the world, the lives were saved and generations were created. And that’s the essence of what this story is that one individual can change things. <SCHINDLER’S LIST>
‘In’ can also signify being within the realm of sports, industries, or markets, not just physical locations.
Jimmy Dugan: There’s no crying in baseball! <A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, 1992>
Mr. McGuire: There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it? <THE GRADUATE>
The Preposition ‘To’ for Direction:
‘To’ might be one of the most frequently used prepositions in English. When placed before a noun indicating a place, it denotes arrival at a destination, a direction towards something, and conceptually implies a movement ‘towards.’
Alberto Aragon: This is the root of your life, the root of your family. You are bound to this land and to this family. Plant it. It will grow. <A WALK IN THE CLOUDS>
Holly Golightly: I’m like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don’t even belong to each other. <BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S>
What if expressions involve multiple places? Simply write from the narrowest to the broadest place. The thought process of English speakers tends to expand from small to larger concerns, hence English expressions typically start with the conclusion and then provide details.
Nobody, No money, No idea
‘Nobody puts ‘Baby’ in a corner’ can alternatively be expressed as ‘Anybody does not put ‘Baby’ in a corner.’ Similarly, common expressions like “I have no money” or “I have no idea” are equivalent to “I do not have money” and “I do not have an idea,” respectively. Though these might seem unusual in other languages, they are common in English, emphasizing negation and aiding in expressing ideas more naturally in English.
Wizard of Oz: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! <THE WIZARD OF OZ, 1939>
There are expressions where ‘not’ or ‘never’ are placed at the very beginning of a sentence to emphasize negation, such as:
FRANZ LIEBKIND: Not many people know it, but the Führer was a terrific dancer. <THE PRODUCERS, AVCO Embassy, 1968>
CAPT. NATHAN BRITTLES: Never apologize and never explain; it’s a sign of weakness. <SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, 1949>
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