spaces behind and spaces after

[saranash1]

the book says spaces behind and spaces after are treated the same.

i.e. f marches exactly 3 groups behind g

g __ __ F

We could of also stated that g was exactly three groups ahead of F.

How is ahead and behind the same thing?

[Nikki Siclunov]

Sara,

I think you misunderstood what we meant by saying, "spaces behind and spaces after are treated the same." They obviously aren't the same in meaning: they are merely treated, i.e. represented, the same.

We could of (sic) also stated that g was exactly three groups ahead of F.

Indeed. If F marches exactly 3 groups behind G, it is reasonable to conclude that G marches exactly three groups ahead of F. Thus, we have a G _ _ F block. The fact that you can convey they same relationship in two different ways surely doesn't mean that "ahead" and "behind" are the same thing. Right?

Let me know if this clears things up. Thanks!

[Steve Stein]

Hi saranash,

Thanks for your question. It's not that "ahead" and "behind" are the same, it's that we can characterize relationships in more than one way, For example, Monday is exactly three days before Thursday, but we could relay this same information by saying that Thursday is exactly three days after Monday.

I hope that's helpful! Please let me know whether this is clear--thanks!

~Steve

On a related note, how have you been preparing for the test? Class, books, practice tests? Let me know--thanks!

[saranash1]

ok that makes sense thanks