Thank you for your help. I have one more similar set related to 'a long way' and 'far.'
Which one do you use frequently?In a grammar book here, #2 and #4 are regarded as incorrect sentences because 'far' is used in a positive sentence. Is that explanation correct?
1. We went a long way.
2. We went far.
3. The restaurant is a long way from here.
4. The restaurant is far away from here.
5. I live far from the centre of town.
6. I live a long way from the centre of town.
I would use all except sentence 2. The rest are fairly commonly used.
3. The restaurant is a long way from here.
4. The restaurant is far from here.
(Thank you...I made a mistake. There is no 'away' in #4. What about Sentence 4 without "away'? 'Far off' and 'Far away' seem to be used in a positive sentence, don't they? )
3 and 4 are still just fine.
Yes, they are being used in positive sentences, but I've always heard, read, and used all these expressions except for 2 in your first post.
Both "a long way" and "far" can be used to describe distance in English. The choice between them often depends on personal preference and the specific context in which they are used.
In the examples you provided, all the sentences are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. There is no rule that states using "far" in a positive sentence is incorrect. Both #2 and #4 are perfectly acceptable.
Here is a breakdown of the difference in usage between "a long way" and "far":
1. "We went a long way." - This implies that a considerable distance was covered. It emphasizes the length or duration of the journey.
2. "We went far." - This also indicates a significant distance traveled, but it is more concise and direct. It may be more commonly used in casual conversation.
3. "The restaurant is a long way from here." - This suggests that the restaurant is located at quite a distance from the current location. It focuses on the length of the journey required to reach it.
4. "The restaurant is far away from here." - This conveys the same meaning as #3, indicating that the restaurant is located a significant distance from the current location. It is a straightforward and concise expression.
5. "I live far from the center of town." - This expresses that the speaker's residence is located at a considerable distance from the town center. It emphasizes the distance between the two locations.
6. "I live a long way from the center of town." - This implies the same meaning as #5, highlighting the length or duration of the commute between the speaker's residence and the town center.
In summary, both "a long way" and "far" can be used interchangeably to describe distance. There is no grammatical rule stating that using "far" in a positive sentence is incorrect. The choice between them depends on personal preference and the specific context of the sentence.