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Oscar
Hi everyone,
I've just done a reading exercise and the verb 'intrude' is in the text. Here are a few lines from the text to provide context:
- Apparently, we walk around in a sort of invisible bubble which is egg-shaped -- this is because we allow people to come closer from in front than from behind each other. In northern Europe and North America (lovers, close friends, and wrestling partners aside) the average depth of the bubble is about a metre. When it's intruded on the physiological responses can range from...
According to the dictionary intrude means enter uninvited and intrude on interrupt uninvited.
My question is obvious, I believe, do I have to use the preposition 'on'?
I'm about to complain about English and its too many nuances but, what's the use?
🤪
Thanks in advance folks!
Cheers 🥂
Feb 27, 2023 5:42 PM
Answers · 5
1
Hey Oscar!
You are right, this does sound weird! Usually when we talk about personal space 'bubbles', we use the word 'invade' or 'violate'. 'Intrude' definitely wouldn't be my first choice, as it usually refers to figurative 'intrusion', like listening in on a neighbour's argument or giving advice when you were not asked...
To help clarify the use of 'on', some more commonly used (albeit formal) synonyms of 'intrude' are 'encroach' and 'infringe' which both take the preposition 'on' (eg. encroach on his rights, infringe on my privacy), so maybe the author is mimicking these phrasal verbs but has replaced 'encroach/infringe' with 'intrude'.
February 27, 2023
I've just done a reading exercise and the verb 'intrude' is in the text. Here are a few lines from the text to provide context:
- Apparently, we walk around in a sort of invisible bubble which is egg-shaped -- this is because we allow people to come closer from in front than from behind each other. In northern Europe and North America (lovers, close friends, and wrestling partners aside) the average depth of the bubble is about a metre. When it's intruded on the physiological responses can range from...
According to the dictionary intrude means enter uninvited and intrude on interrupt uninvited.
My question is obvious, I believe, do I have to use the preposition 'on'?
I'm about to complain about English and its too many nuances but, what's the use?
February 27, 2023
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Oscar
Language Skills
English, Spanish
Learning Language
English
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