Making <a> preparation(s) (2025)

<-----This question has been moved to its own thread.----->

Hi,

I have a question about "preparation":

My uncle is going to celebrate his birthday next month and he’s going to hold a big party. I wonder if they all are okay.

My uncle is

for his birthday celebration in next month.
My uncle is

for his birthday celebration in next month.
My uncle is

for his birthday celebration in next month.

(The birthday celebration is in next month and my uncle will rehearse it several times first.)

Thanks a lot

Glasguensis said:

You can say "making preparations". The other two suggestions don't work.

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot

I still have a minor question:

My uncle is

for his birthday celebration in next month.

Is the "in" necessary? I think it is because "next month" is not an adverbial phrase here, right. It refers to time.

Silverobama said:

my uncle will rehearse it several times first

Click to expand...

"Making preparations" does not normally suggest any kind of rehearsal. What exactly is your uncle doing to prepare? Is he reading his speech out over and over again so he knows it by heart?

se16teddy said:

"Making preparations" does not normally suggest any kind of rehearsal. What exactly is your uncle doing to prepare? Is he reading his speech out over and over again so he knows it by heart?

Click to expand...

He's preparing to give a speech first. And then invites his leaders to the stage to say something. And then invites my grandmother to the stage to say something, etc.

As se16teddy says, we would not generally understand that type of preparation from "making preparations", but it is indeed part of the preparations and therefore there's nothing wrong with using it. If you really want people to understand what he's doing, however, you need to be more explicit (he's rehearsing his speech, for example).

Not only is the "in" not required, it's wrong to have it.

Glasguensis said:

As se16teddy says, we would not generally understand that type of preparation from "making preparations", but it is indeed part of the preparations and therefore there's nothing wrong with using it. If you really want people to understand what he's doing, however, you need to be more explicit (he's rehearsing his speech, for example).

Not only is the "in" not required, it's wrong to have it.

Click to expand...

I've discussed the question about "rehearsal" in this thread, please take a look if you are interested. In order to avoid misunderstanding, I use "making preparations", because that's general and understandable.

As for "in", why is it wrong?

I am going to NYC next month.
I am going to NYC in next month.

I understand this.

But here "in" emphasizes the time, doesn't it?

Glasguensis said:

You can say "making preparations". The other two suggestions don't work.

Click to expand...

Why is it wrong to use "make preparation". If I'm not mistaken, "preparation" is uncountable when it refers to the process of preparing, and countable when it refers to specific activities done as preparation.

Is there a reliable way to tell when it is correct to use either one? Many thanks!

EdisonBhola said:

Why is it wrong to use "make preparation". If I'm not mistaken, "preparation" is uncountable when it refers to the process of preparing, and countable when it refers to specific activities done as preparation.

Click to expand...

It's because, while "the preparation of food", for example is uncountable, when you use "preparation(s)" with the meaning of things you do to get ready for an event, it's always plural.

DonnyB said:

It's because, while "the preparation of food", for example is uncountable, when you use "preparation(s)" with the meaning of things you do to get ready for an event, it's always plural.

Click to expand...

This is something non-natives like me will never truly understand.

But thanks for your help.