Alice was sitting on/in the grass.

[YAMATO2201]

1) Alice was sitting on the grass.

2) Alice was sitting in the grass.

Is it OK to use #2 if "the grass" was 30 cm tall?

 

[jutfrank]

Yes.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Yamato:

Here is some information that may interest you.

1. "The players were practicing on the field." ("field" = surface for sports.)
2. "Cows were grazing in the field." ("field" = enclosed area of land.)

3. "She was sitting on the grass." (surface, i.e., the grass was short.)
4. "She was sitting in the grass." (volume, i.e., the grass is long.)

Source: Quirk, et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1985), page 676.

 

[Rover_KE]

4 would only work if it already been established that the grass was long. Otherwise, say 'She was sitting in the long grass'.

 

[YAMATO2201]

4 would only work if it already been established that the grass was long.

Do you mean "... if it's already been established ..."?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes. Thank you.