Opposite 用作介系詞時意為「與某人/某物相對;在某人/某物的對面」,而介系詞片語 in front of 意為「在某人/某物的前面」。例如:
- The bank is opposite the post office. (銀行在郵局的對面) (正)
The bank is in front of the post office. (誤) - 除非兩棟建築的位置是一前一後。 - They sat opposite each other. (他們面對面坐著) (正)
They sat in front of each other. (誤) - Jack sat opposite Monica in the restaurant. (傑克和莫妮卡在餐廳裡面對面坐著) (正) - 傑克和莫妮卡坐在同一張餐桌的不同邊,面對面。
Jack sat in front of Monica in the restaurant. (傑克在餐廳裡坐在莫妮卡的前面) (正) - 傑克和莫妮卡坐在不同的餐桌,傑克坐在莫妮卡的前面。