1. We will lead your children to the joys of reading.
2. We will lead your children to the joy of reading.
3. We will lead your children to joy of reading.
(Which expressions are grammatical? Are both acceptable?)
4. I learn many things in class from her kind teaching.
5. I learn many things at class from her kind teaching.
(What is the difference between 'in class' and 'at class'?)
6. Dinosaurs lived on the earth long ago.
7. Dinosaurs lived on earth long ago.
(Which one is right, 'on the earth' or 'on earth'? Are both OK?)
1 and 2 are fine; 3 is not.
4 is fine; 5 is not. The word "in" means "inside," in a way, and is just the correct one to use. It's idiomatic, I guess; there's no real explanation!
6 and 7 are both correct.
Just a little extra on the word "at" as a preposition. It is usually a "function" word such as:
1. 1 - used as a function word to indicate presence or occurrence in, on, or near - staying ∼ a hotel - ∼ a party - sick ∼ heart
2. 2 - used as a function word to indicate the goal of an indicated or implied action or motion - aim ∼ the target - creditors are ∼ him again
3. 3 - used as a function word to indicate that with which one is occupied or employed - ∼ work - ∼ the controls - good ∼ chess
4. 4 - used as a function word to indicate situation in an active or passive state or condition - ∼ liberty - ∼ rest
5. 5 - used as a function word to indicate the means, cause, or manner - sold ∼ auction - laughed ∼ my joke - act ∼ your own discretion
6 a. 6 a - used as a function word to indicate the rate, degree, or position in a scale or series - the temperature ∼ 90 - ∼ firstb. b - used as a function word to indicate age or position in time - will retire ∼ 65
Sra
1. We will lead your children to the joys of reading. - This expression is grammatically correct. It implies that there are multiple joys associated with reading.
2. We will lead your children to the joy of reading. - This expression is also grammatically correct. It suggests that there is a single joy that comes from reading.
3. We will lead your children to joy of reading. - This expression is not grammatically correct. It is missing the article "the" before "joy."
Regarding the difference between "in class" and "at class":
4. I learn many things in class from her kind teaching. - This sentence is correct. "In class" is used to refer to being physically present and engaged in learning within a specific educational setting.
5. I learn many things at class from her kind teaching. - This sentence is not grammatically correct. "At class" is not commonly used. Instead, we use "in class" to denote being physically present and engaged in learning.
Concerning the usage of "on the earth" and "on earth":
6. Dinosaurs lived on the earth long ago. - This sentence is grammatically correct. "On the earth" refers to living directly on the planet's surface.
7. Dinosaurs lived on earth long ago. - This sentence is also grammatically correct. However, it eliminates the specific reference to the planet's surface. In this case, "on earth" is used more generally to mean that dinosaurs lived during the time when the planet existed.