Form a circle line? (Verb)
Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:
form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)
What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.
word-choice phrases
add a comment |
Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:
form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)
What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.
word-choice phrases
4
The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27
add a comment |
Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:
form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)
What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.
word-choice phrases
Let's say a primary school teacher is going to tell a story. But before she starts, she is asking her students to:
form a circle line surrounding her (like this one in the picture)
What is a better way of saying it? I think there's a fixed phrase for it, but I can't get the correct word out.
word-choice phrases
word-choice phrases
edited Jan 11 at 18:23
FumbleFingers
44.9k155119
44.9k155119
asked Jan 11 at 18:06
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,084839
1,084839
4
The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27
add a comment |
4
The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27
4
4
The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27
The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:
Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)
Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)
Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)
etc.
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
1
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
add a comment |
Form a circle around me.
Forget "line".
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
2
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
add a comment |
“Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)
add a comment |
"Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.
In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
"Let's all sit in a circle."
add a comment |
After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
add a comment |
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:
Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)
Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)
Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)
etc.
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
1
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
add a comment |
Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:
Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)
Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)
Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)
etc.
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
1
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
add a comment |
Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:
Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)
Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)
Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)
etc.
Combining "circle" and "line" in this way is contradictory and unidiomatic. The correct way is simply:
Form a circle around me. (When the speaker wants to be in the middle, within the circle.)
Form a circle with me. (When the speaker wants to be one of the people forming the circle.)
Form a circle in the middle of the room. (The speaker may or may not be involved in the circle.)
etc.
edited Jan 11 at 18:34
answered Jan 11 at 18:10
TashusTashus
6,300820
6,300820
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
1
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
add a comment |
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
1
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
Oh this is also excellent.
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:45
1
1
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
You could use "make" instead of "form" if you want it to be more understandable for young children.
– retnikt
Jan 13 at 8:38
add a comment |
Form a circle around me.
Forget "line".
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
2
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
add a comment |
Form a circle around me.
Forget "line".
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
2
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
add a comment |
Form a circle around me.
Forget "line".
Form a circle around me.
Forget "line".
answered Jan 11 at 18:10
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
113k788182
113k788182
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
2
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
add a comment |
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
2
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
Oh I see, I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure, I would be misterpreted as "drawing a circle" or something...
– John Arvin
Jan 11 at 18:12
2
2
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
If anything, "a line" might be misinterpreted in that way. But form a circle means "arrange yourselves in a circle"
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Jan 11 at 18:14
add a comment |
“Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)
add a comment |
“Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)
add a comment |
“Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)
“Circle around!” or “Circle up!” can be used in the imperative voice to give routine instructions like this. (American English, informal)
answered Jan 11 at 23:13
CodeGnomeCodeGnome
51427
51427
add a comment |
add a comment |
"Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.
In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
"Let's all sit in a circle."
add a comment |
"Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.
In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
"Let's all sit in a circle."
add a comment |
"Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.
In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
"Let's all sit in a circle."
"Form" seems a little abstract for young children. You could describe the specific way in which they form the circle using more familiar words.
In this case they are all sitting, so the teacher could say,
"Let's all sit in a circle."
answered Jan 12 at 3:24
David KDavid K
2,864915
2,864915
add a comment |
add a comment |
After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
add a comment |
After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
add a comment |
After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"
After the first time I'd just say that "It's story circle time!"
answered Jan 13 at 8:56
MaxWMaxW
1,742510
1,742510
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
add a comment |
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
Awkward quoting I guess, it should be -"it's "story circle" time!
– John Arvin
Jan 13 at 14:05
add a comment |
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4
The circle isn't surrounding the teacher. She's just asking them to form a circle that includes her (on the periphery, same as everyone else except the 3/4 people in the foreground, who are sitting outside the circle). Personally, I wouldn't include the word line, but maybe that's just me.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 11 at 18:27