Back and behind...
By vanny
@vandana7 (100300)
India
November 9, 2010 7:14am CST
I know I have a backlog of responses to clear. I will do it. I promise.
This is not about that... :)
Actually I wanted to know something in English. :)
It is about back - the same back as in back pain.
And another is behind.
When do you all use back, and when do you all use behind. Quite confusing for me actually.
9 people like this
11 responses
@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
28 Mar 11
IMO behind is inferior to back. "I always look back" sounds positive while "I always look behind" does not, to me. For me, I'll use whatever makes me comfortable. People may correct me as long as their methods are valid. In case they are not behaving, they'll see!
@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
28 Mar 11
I differ though....
Never going to entertain myself like that. Lot of people here make fun of my English you know and don't realize they are helping me actually. It's the attitude that infuriates me. And... I still think saying whatever helps in improving fast.
Salutes
Never going to entertain myself like that. Lot of people here make fun of my English you know and don't realize they are helping me actually. It's the attitude that infuriates me. And... I still think saying whatever helps in improving fast.
Salutes1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov 10
Well I use back as in when I go back......I have back pain.......back to the future and so on .................Behind is a case of .....look behind........someone is behind you......behind the chair..........left behind
I hope this makes it a bit more easier for you to understand
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
12 Nov 10
Hi vandana7, I login here frequently to improve my language so it's interesting to come across this topic. It's just like going back to those school days when we was asked to construct sentences in the class. Let's me have a trial!
The man moves back and forth while waiting his wife to give birth of their first baby out side the labor (delivery) room. Which one is more appropriate,labor or delivery?
I feel that there is an ant moving on my back, but I couldn't reach it, please help ...
I have some vegetable plants growing in the yard behind my house.
Game over 
and have a nice day 
and have a nice day 1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Jan 11
In the U.S., at least, we call it the delivery room. Labor is the action of the mother giving birth.
Interesting, back & behind. It occurs to me that the plants are not touching the back of the house, but are merely behind the house, while the ant is ON the person's back.
Thanks for opening my eyes to the nuances. We rarely think about these things, having grown up with them!
Of course, when a lover cheats on his/her lover by seeing another person, that is called "seeing someone else 'behind one's back'!" Again, here, the lovers triangle involves someone not touching the aggrieved (jilted or cuckolded) lover.
Just something to consider...
]
Maggiepie
"Human wandering through the zoo, what do your cousins think of you?" ~ Don Marquis, humorist & poet (1878-1937)
]
Maggiepie
"Human wandering through the zoo, what do your cousins think of you?" ~ Don Marquis, humorist & poet (1878-1937)@vandana7 (100300)
• India
14 May 11
lkbooi, as Maggiepie put it, they grow up with these nuances so they dont really think about it, but we do. Especially because part of my education was in vernacular. At times I rephrase and rephrase, and still do not get it to my satisfaction. I too come here to improve my language. I go to the discussions of these people who express themselves very well, learn their way of expression, try to start discussions and express myself as clearly as they do. Still a long way to go I think before I reach their level. :)
@maggiepie..I think this behind and back is all the more confusing because they call it backyard and not behind the house as lkbooi put it.. Why cant you English speaking folks be very clear about how it should be used...
@vijayanths (7877)
• India
10 Nov 10
My back pain seemed to reduce a bit when I was walking behind her- will this be of any help to you vannie, (you know well My English is poorer than yours)
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Jan 11
VANDANA: Either way would work in those two examples you gave us.
Maggiepie
"Human wandering through the zoo, what do your cousins think of you?" ~ Don Marquis, humorist & poet (1878-1937)
Maggiepie
"Human wandering through the zoo, what do your cousins think of you?" ~ Don Marquis, humorist & poet (1878-1937)@vandana7 (100300)
• India
5 Feb 11
@Maggiepie - that is why it is confusing. I end up wondering which is the correct usage. :)
Actually I was hoping somebody would tell me - how would you say - place that luggage behind that bag, or at the back of that bag kinda thing. :) I can really get confused you know. :)
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Nov 10
hi vanday back as a noun like my back is itching Or I have a back ache
or used like returning, I will be back in three hours.
while behind can mean i have not caught up with my comments here so I am behind, or location, the book case is behind you
also we do use behind to mean my butt, or bottom like I smacked my little son on his behind.hope this helps a bit. and I am behind on my mylotting.
1 person likes this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
17 Apr 11
THe dictionary says that ‘back’ refers to the upper portion of the rear surface of the human body.
‘behind’ is colloquially used for ‘buttocks’. and also as given in the dictionary, it is in or to the rear of something.
Another important thing is that while’ back ‘ can be used both as an adjective and noun, ‘behind’ cannot be used as an adjective. It can be used both as a preposition and adverb.
You can say ‘back’ pain but not ‘pain on my behind’[it would not refer to the upper rear portion of your body and would only refer to the colloquial usage.
'back' can either be used as a noun or an adjective. For e.g,
1.He came through the back door--here 'back ' is used as an adjective. It is back versus the front door.
2.In 'back 'pain it is once again used as an adjective.
2.My back is paining.Here it refers to the part of anatomy and is used as a noun.
1.The book is behind you.-'here' behind' is used as an adverb indicating where the book is.
On the other hand when a person refers to 'on his behind' it can be used as a noun too.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
17 Apr 11
Since you had specifically mentioned about 'back' pain I wrote my response pertaining broadly to that. Now, there are many idiomatic usages and I am sure you are aware of many of them e.g., 'behind the scenes',it is all behind me' etc..,
I suppose you did refer to real 'back' pain.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
17 Apr 11
Thank you Vandana. I am fine ; I was a bit down with fever for quite some time and the little one was also ill.But now both of us are fine. He is a very cute little darling and keeps us all on our toes.
How are you? I started responding to that other discussion of yours about 'nun' and something came up and I didn't. I'll go there now. Let us hope I a m able to post it now.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
5 Mar 11
Vandanaji
I am having health problems due to diabetes, more over pain has started in the hip area, i had broken my acetabular of left hip in 1985..
I have lot of comments to made on the responses to my discussions, i will try to do, but not going to promise..
Thanks for sharing
Cheers.
God bless you, have a nice day ahead.
Professor ‘Bhuwan’. .
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
26 Mar 11
Vandanaji
I too have lot of backlog responses to comment, but i have severe back pain, medicines give only temporary relief..
hope you are ok, cleared all backlogs
thanks for this nice but bit funny discussion
have a nice weekend
cheers
kalyani
