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Thread: To Mars vs on Mars

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    To Mars vs on Mars

    We have an argument with friend of mine. Help, please.
    What is a correct way to ask -
    Have you been to Mars? or
    Have you been on Mars?

    Вы бывали на Марсе?

  2. #2
    DDT
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    Most people would say, "to Mars".
    However "on Mars" is grammatically correct.
    Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself. - Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

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    Thank you, DDT.

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    What? Nobody is speaking up?! DDT is wrong!

    Have you been on Mars? is the right choice!

    Compare:
    Where have you been? On Mars?
    Where did you go? To Mars?
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

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    DDT
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    Well Klinky ol' boy, well just have to put it to a vote.
    Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself. - Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

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    A direct translation of the Russian sentence would be "... on Mars", but no-one would ever say that in English (though both sentences are grammatically correct).

    It'd be like asking "have you been in Russia?"

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    Quote Originally Posted by CTPEKO3A
    We have an argument with friend of mine. Help, please.
    What is a correct way to ask -
    Have you been to Mars? or
    Have you been on Mars?

    Вы бывали на Марсе?
    Both are correct. It does not matter in this case.
    However, there is a slight difference in meaning.
    "to" implies you traveled there
    "on" implies that you were standing on the planet. But if you were on Mars, then you travelled there. It does not matter.

    Quote Originally Posted by scotcher
    It'd be like asking "have you been in Russia?"
    It is better to say "Have you been to Russia?"
    But you can say "Have you been living in Russia for a long time?"
    Какая разница, умереть богатым или бедным?

    Какой толк от богатства если ты не счастлив.

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