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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
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2016-10-20T13:07:58.450
40168
2016-10-20T13:44:17.307
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question
translation words usage
前の方に立つ　versus　前に立つ
> 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.
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2016-10-20T13:39:11.807
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2016-10-20T13:44:17.307
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer
OK, here is the issue. the first one

> 彼女は教室の前の方に立っていた

specifically means she was standing in-front of the classroom

The second could have a meaning of standing in front of the actual classroom
(In other words outside the class room but in front of it) But also could mean
standing at the front of the classroom.

> 彼女は教室の前に立っていた
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2016-10-20T13:39:25.440
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2016-10-20T13:39:25.440
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answer