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What should I use: on, at or another preposition... in the following sentence?

"The wind is blowing hard ____ my back".

Is there any difference if it's "my face" or "my body"?

By the way, can I use "block" in this: "He stood there, blocked the wind for me"? (The wind was blowing in one direction)

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  • One question per post please.
    – Michael Rybkin
    Commented Nov 26, 2017 at 10:44
  • How about the "ing" form? He stood there blocking the wind for me.
    – Michael Rybkin
    Commented Nov 26, 2017 at 10:46
  • -1 which dictionary did you look up the prepositions in and why didn't those definitions answer your question?
    – green_ideas
    Commented Nov 26, 2017 at 16:29
  • It depends what you mean. Any of those three prepositions could work, as could dozens of others.
    – green_ideas
    Commented Nov 26, 2017 at 16:31

2 Answers 2

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The wind is blowing hard in my back.

You need in there because the preposition in in English is used to describe the movement of something in a particular direction. Though, some might say that the preposition into would be, technically speaking, a better choice according to grammar books, but in real speech you will hear people say in all the time in situations like this one. on would mean that the wind is situated right on your back and is blowing there. That makes no sense. at is usually used to denote a situation where something is located at a particular point in space or time. This would have almost the same implication in meaning as in the example with on, but is still acceptable. So, stick with in or into.

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  • -1 Absolutely not. the wind is blowing hard in my back sounds ridiculous and connotes the wind is blowing inside my back.
    – green_ideas
    Commented Nov 26, 2017 at 16:09
  • No, the following is incorrect: "in real speech you will hear people say in all the time in situations like this one." You can't correct the wrong information you used in your first try by adding more incorrect information.
    – green_ideas
    Commented Nov 27, 2017 at 15:47
  • Please provide some uses of in in this context ("describe the movement of something in a particular direction").
    – green_ideas
    Commented Nov 27, 2017 at 17:23
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I think you should use "at":

The wind is blowing hard at my back.

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