1. When he was walking down the street, he ran into Miss Fairchild.
(Does 'down' mean downward' or 'along' or 'on'?)
2. He was walking down the street.
3. he was walking along the street.
4. He was walking on the street.
5. He was walking up the street.
(Is #2 the opposite of #5? What does #2 mean? Is #2 Sentence 3 or Sentence 4? What is the difference? Thank you.)
1. In the sentence "When he was walking down the street, he ran into Miss Fairchild," the word "down" can have multiple meanings depending on the context. Without further information, it could mean either "downward," "along," or "on" the street.
2. Sentence 2, "He was walking down the street," suggests that the person was moving either in a general downward direction, such as descending a hill or slope, or simply moving along the street in a specific direction. It does not necessarily imply that they were walking in the opposite direction of sentence 5, "He was walking up the street."
3. Sentence 3, "He was walking along the street," implies that the person was moving in a linear direction parallel to the street. It does not indicate a specific incline or decline.
4. Sentence 4, "He was walking on the street," suggests that the person was physically walking directly on the surface of the street, typically the paved area designated for pedestrians.
5. Sentence 5, "He was walking up the street," implies that the person was moving in a direction that is opposite to the normal progression of numbered addresses or landmarks. It typically means they were moving in a direction away from where the numbers or landmarks decrease.
The main difference between the sentences is in the specific direction and relationship between the person and the street. Without more context, it is difficult to determine the exact meaning of "down" in sentence 1 or if sentence 2 is the same as sentence 3 or 4. It is important to consider the surrounding context to fully understand the intended meaning.