Roof or Ceiling?

[Tom]

Dear everybody

If I am in my room and an earthquake strikes (Lord forbid ), what would I see?

1-The ceiling of my room spilit.

OR

2-The roof of my room spilit.

Thanks in advance

Tom

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

They're both the top of something - the roof is on the outside of the house - the ceiling is on the inside of the room.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Words, words, words...

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I'd use the word ceiling if you simply see a crack.

I'd use the word roof, if you can see sky through the crack. Additionally, I'd talk about "the roof of my house" and not the "roof of my room".

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

Thank you Alan and Amy

One question:

There was a crack on the ceiling.

OR

There was a crack in the ceiling.

Thanks

Tom

[Phil]

Hi Tom,

crack IN the ceiling

BR
Phil

[Tom]

Dear Amy

Would you also go for in?

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Yes, "IN" would definitely be the right choice because that is the nature of most cracks. (i.e. "ON" would only indicate the surface and not deeper)

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

My dear Amy

If you feel up to it, kindly give one example of each use, i.e, CRACK ON and CRACK IN

Thank you

Yours ever

Tom