ISLAND


Meaning of ISLAND in English

noun

1

BAD : I was on holiday with my parents on the island Capri.

GOOD : I was on holiday with my parents on the island of Capri.

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the island/isle of + name: 'the holiday resort island of Langkawi', 'the isle of Skye'

2

BAD : Does anyone live in the island?

GOOD : Does anyone live on the island?

BAD : I was born in a small village in Lantau Island.

GOOD : I was born in a small village on Lantau Island.

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When island means 'a mass of land surrounded by water', or is part of a name, the usual preposition is on (NOT in ): 'The prisoners were left on a small island, with neither food nor drinking water.' 'Mr Mandela was placed in a maximum security prison on Robben Island.'

When an island is considered in terms of its people, cities, schools, roads, traditions, economy etc, both in and on are used: 'There has been no serious outbreak of cholera in the island for over twenty years.' 'Elsewhere in the island most of these stone cottages have disappeared.'

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.