前の方に立つ　versus　前に立つ


I found an example sentence in japaneseclass.jp, which went as follows:

> 彼女は教室の前の方に立っていた

and was translated as "She was standing in front of the classroom"

I wonder if it couldn´t be just

> 彼女は教室の前に立っていた

And what would be the difference in meaning




> 彼女は教室の前に立っていた

Yes. This can usually be translated as "She was standing in front of the
classroom." though it is also possible to mean the same as below sentence.

> 彼女は教室の前の方に立っていた

It should rather be translated "She was standing in _the front part of_ the
classroom." The difference is that in this case, 彼女 is standing _in_ the
classroom. However, saying "in front of" sounds to me that 彼女 was standing at
_outside_ of the classroom, say, in front of a door, doesn't it?

The meaning of 前の方 depends on the context. 方 is generally "direction", and can
mean relatively determined places. In this case 前の方 is like "relatively front
part", which can simply be "front part."

Sometimes 方 can mean vagueness, as in

> 彼の車は我々の前の方を走っている。
>
> His car is running somewhat ahead of us.




> 彼女は教室の前に立っていた

Yes. This can usually be translated as "She was standing in front of the
classroom." though it is also possible to mean the same as below sentence.

> 彼女は教室の前の方に立っていた

It should rather be translated "She was standing in _the front part of_ the
classroom." The difference is that in this case, 彼女 is standing _in_ the
classroom. However, saying "in front of" sounds to me that 彼女 was standing at
_outside_ of the classroom, say, in front of a door, doesn't it?

The meaning of 前の方 depends on the context. 方 is generally "direction", and can
mean relatively determined places. In this case 前の方 is like "relatively front
part", which can simply be "front part."

Sometimes 方 can mean vagueness, as in

> 彼の車は我々の前の方を走っている。
>
> His car is running somewhat ahead of us.

