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Grammar and Linguistics > Grammar Question Help!!!!!! point to point at....
Grammar Question Help!!!!!! point to point at....
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goodnesses
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Good morning all
Try to consider this.
--------------------Cambridge Advanced Learner�s Dictionary
point
(SHOW) /p??nt/
verb
1 [I] to direct other
people�s attention to something by holding out your finger towards
it:
"Look
at that!" she said, pointing at the hole in the door.
Small
children are often told that it�s rude to point.
2 [T] to hold something
out in the direction of someone or something:
He
said that the man had pointed a knife at him.
3 [I] If something points
in a particular direction, it is turned towards that direction:
The
road sign points left.
All
the cars were pointing in the same direction.
There
was an arrow pointing to the door.
--------------------Oxford Advanced Learner�s Dictionary
verb
SHOW WITH FINGER
1
[no passive] ~ (at / to / towards sb/sth) to stretch out your finger or sth held in your hand towards sb/sth in
order to show sb where a person or thing is: [v] �That�s my
mother,� she said, pointing at a photo on the wall. 
It�s rude to point!
He pointed to the spot where the house used to
stand.
�What�s your name?� he asked, pointing at the child
with his pen.
She pointed in my direction.
[vn] She pointed her finger in my direction.
AIM
2 [vn] ~ sth (at
sb/sth) to aim sth at
sb/sth: He pointed the gun at
her head.
A hundred camera lenses were being pointed at
her.
FACE
DIRECTION
3 [v + adv. / prep.] to face in or be directed
towards a particular direction: The telescope was pointing in the wrong direction.
The signpost pointed straight ahead.
A compass needle points
north.
LEAD
TO
4 [+adv. / prep.] to lead to or suggest a
particular development or logical argument: [v] The evidence
seems to point in that direction.
[vn] The fans are looking to the new players to point the way to victory.
SHOW THE WAY
5
[vn
+ adv. / prep.] to show sb which way to
go: I wonder if you could
point me in the right direction for the bus station.
A series of yellow arrows pointed the way to reception.
WALL
6 [vn] to put mortar
between the bricks of a wall: The house needs pointing before
winter.
point a / the  finger
(at sb) to accuse sb of doing sth:
The article points an accusing finger at the
authorities.
 point
sb/sth out
(to sb) to stretch your finger out
towards sb/sth in order to show sb which person or thing you are referring
to: I�ll point him out to you
next time he comes in.
The guide pointed out various historic
monuments.
point
out
(to sb)|
point
sthout
(to sb) to mention sth in order to
give sb information about it or make them notice it:
She tried in vain to point out to him the unfairness
of his actions.
He pointed out the dangers of driving
alone.
[+ that]
I should point out that not one of these paintings is
original.
[+ speech] �It�s not very far,� she pointed
out.
point
to sth
1 to mention sth
that you think is important and/or the reason why a particular situation
exists: The board of directors
pointed to falling productivity to justify their decision.
Pointing to the results of a recent survey, he
claimed voters were most interested in education and
unemployment.
2 to suggest
that sth is true or likely: All the signs point to a successful year ahead.
The evidence before us points clearly to his
innocence.
point
sthup (formal)
to emphasize sth so that it becomes more
noticeable 
highlight: The conference merely pointed up divisions in the
party.
--------------------MacMillan English Dictionary -American
point
point2 /
p??nt / verb ***
? 1 show with finger etc.
?
2 show with sign/symbol
? 3 aim object at someone/something
? 4 show
someone what to do
? 5 stretch toes
? 6 repair wall
? +
PHRASES
1 [intransitive or transitive] to show something by holding
out your finger or a long thin object:
Don�t point. They�ll know we�re
looking at them.
He pointed his stick in the direction of the bird.
point
at: She pointed at the ice cream that she wanted.
point to: He pointed to the
dog as it ran toward them.
2 [intransitive] to show a particular
direction or place, usually using a sign or symbol:
The arrow pointed left
toward the exit door.
Is the little hand on the clock pointing to 3 or
4?
3 [transitive] to aim an object at someone or something:
All you
have to do is point the camera and shoot.
point something at/toward
someone/something: He pointed his rifle at the deer and pulled the
trigger.
4 [intransitive or transitive] to show someone the direction
in which they should go:
Could you point me in the direction of the
lobby?
4a. to show someone what they should do:
The results of the study
will point toward areas for further research.
a great thinker who was
pointing the way to the future
5 [intransitive or transitive] to
stretch your toes as if you were trying to make them form a straight line with
your leg
6 [transitive] to repair a wall by putting new CEMENT or
MORTAR between the stones or bricks
point the/a finger (at someone)
to
accuse someone or suggest that they are guilty of something bad
,point `out
phrasal verb [transitive]
1 to show someone who a person is or where
something is:
He pointed out the best beaches on the map.
2 to tell
someone something:
Thank you for pointing that out.
point out that: He
pointed out that we had two hours of free time before dinner.
`point to
phrasal verb [transitive]
to show the truth or importance of
something:
The evidence clearly points to her guilt.
,point `up phrasal
verb [transitive] FORMAL
to emphasize something:
Her research points up
the difficulty of finding a solution.
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30 Jan 2009
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alien boy
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Really helpful examples there goodnesses!
You should find that all the examples come under the 3 general considerations I gave in my post - reference to position, direction or movement; purpose; & target.
They are some really good & thorough examples!
Cheers,
ab
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30 Jan 2009
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Jayho
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Intriguing ...
At the end of the day both are acceptable in many scenarios and native speakers will know what sounds right even though they may not be able to explain it. As a general rule of thumb I teach:
1] At as a preposition of location, thinking of a space as a point (Do you know where the moon is - can you point at the moon?�)
and
2] To as a preposition of direction, movement in the direction of something [Show me where the space ship is going - can you point to the moon ?�)
Now, what about all those stories we were told when we were kids about the man in the moon ... or is it the man at the moon ... |
1 Feb 2009
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Jayho
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Growing up in Australia we could see a man in the moon, or rather , the face of one. if anything mysterious happened we, or our parents, would blame it on the man in the moon. As a child your mind is super-dooper creative and you can visualise just about anything you want to ... he could be what you made him, scary, friendly or whatever, but every night there he was, just looking down on us all, that man in the moon (not that man at the moon, or the man on the moon - it was the man in the moon)
P.S. of course this face could only be seen in the Sothern Hemisphere so I don�t know if there is an equivalent legend for the northern hemisphere. |
5 Feb 2009
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