surround and around

Not necessarily, it would depend on the context. Sometimes they might mean the same thing, but i doubt that they are very often used interchangeably.

1 Reply

@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

Sometimes they might mean the same thing

When? To surround is a verb and around can be either an adverb or a preposition.

Quote:

but i doubt that they are very often used interchangeably.

Indeed. See above.

1 Reply

@contrex,

I'm sure it didn't occur to you, since you always seem to be rather slow on the uptake, but used with a verb, around can seem to mean the same thing.

They've surrounded us.

They're all arouind us.

So, pick one . . . one verb or two.

1 Reply

Original question:

Quote:

Does surround mean the same as around??

Your answer:

Quote:

...i doubt that they are very often used interchangeably.

'Surround' can never be interchanged with 'around' to produce a grammatical sentence. Attacking me personally is a sign that you are aware of having posted foolishly.

0 Replies

@Setanta,

Quote:

but used with a verb, around can seem to mean the same thing.

They've surrounded us.

They're all arouind[sic] us.

There is a difference between overall net effect and word meaning.

Having said that, "They've surrounded us" does not mean the same thing as "They're all arouind[sic] us".

0 Replies

JTT wrote:

There is a difference between overall net effect and word meaning.

Does that mean you are you on my side or his?

1 Reply

@contrex,

Does it matter, C?

1 Reply

@JTT,

JTT wrote:

Does it matter, C?

You're such a guru, it would give my ailing self respect a welcome boost if I thought a really knowledgeable, unbiased, non-partisan person like you agreed with me.

1 Reply

@contrex,

To show you how magnanimous I can be even to one who despises me, you said some sensible things in this thread.

0 Replies

Fracesca - there is "surround sound" and it is meant to be all around sound. Smile

1 Reply

@PUNKEY,

PUNKEY wrote:

Fracesca - there is "surround sound" and it is meant to be all around sound.

But marketing descriptions, trade marks product names etc do not always obey the normal rules of English, unless you think that "Krispy Kreme" is normal spelling.

0 Replies

@fracesca99,

To answer your original question, 'Does surround mean the same as around??'
I'd say no.

If I said, 'I put the belt around my waist, I wouldn't then also be likely to say logically or grammatically, 'The belt surrounds my waist' - instead of 'The belt is around my waist.'

Surround implies that something is being approached or covered from all sides.

Around means it's gone round the circumference - once - unless someone says, 'I wrapped it around several times.'

And even 'all around' doesn't communicate the same density or thoroughness of coverage that 'surround' does.

Because 'all around' could mean scattered everywhere. Surround implies a central focal point.

2 Replies

@aidan,

aidan wrote:

Because 'all around' could mean scattered everywhere. Surround implies a central focal point.

Does it?

There is a sense in which 'around' can mean 'surrounding'. For example, the counties around London are the counties which surround London.

1 Reply

@contrex,

But I think surround is more precise and specific than around.

To use your example, I'd say, 'Essex, Berkshire,Surrey and Kent surround London.'
But I might say, Hampshire is somewhere around London (as compared to Devon or Cornwall for instance).

I think the word 'surround' describes a different relative placement than 'around'.

1 Reply

@aidan,

Quote:

I wouldn't then also be likely to say logically or grammatically, 'The belt surrounds my waist' - instead of 'The belt is around my waist.'

There is no issue of grammaticality involved here, Aidan. Completely nonsensical sentences can be perfectly grammatical.

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously is one example created by the linguist Noam Chomsky.

1 Reply

@aidan,

So 'around' has multiple, sometimes overlapping meanings:

Approximation of time, place or quantity:

I'll meet you around six o'clock

On our journey it grew dark somewhere around Albuquerque

He owes me around six hundred pounds

I weigh around twelve stone

I've seen him around Notting Hill

Neighbouring or bordering:

"Satellite towns" are certain towns around London such as Stevenage, Watford and Croydon

Surrounding:

There is a belt around my waist

The seas around Britain

If I use 'around' with a definite article - the counties around London - I mean 'those counties which together surround London'. If I use it with no article - counties around London - I just mean 'one or more of the counties adjacent to London'.

0 Replies

@JTT,

Yeah, but JTT, you can't say:
'These four counties around London',
as you can say
'These four counties surround London'.

They are two different parts of speech with different meanings.

Should we pretend to this girl who's learning English that isn't so?

1 Reply

@aidan,

Quote:

Yeah, but JTT, you can't say:
'These four counties [__] around London',
as you can say
'These four counties surround London'.

They are two different parts of speech with different meanings.

Should we pretend to this girl who's learning English that isn't so?

I wasn't commenting on those new examples, Aidan.

These,

The belt surrounds my waist' - instead of 'The belt is around my waist.'

are both fully grammatical.

In the new examples, you've simply missed the 'be' verb 'are' where I've put the space in bold.

But my point, again, is that nonsensical can be completely grammatical.

0 Replies

surround and around

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know