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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > home or at home? / comma before "too" / "or not"
home or at home? / comma before "too" / "or not"
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blunderbuster
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home or at home? / comma before "too" / "or not"
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Hi,
What do you think, when do I need the "at" in "at home" and when is it optional?
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Do you always use a comma before "too" (meaning = also) or do you sometimes omit it?
Regards
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4 Jul 2010
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blunderbuster
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Thank you, Dora.
I did try ldoce before I asked here, it didn �t answer my question, though.
The GG link is great, didn �t dawn on me to look there.
Thank you!!
New question: Is there a slight difference in meaning if I say "alone at home" or "at home alone"?
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4 Jul 2010
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Kate (kkcat)
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Hi Regina,
as far as I know �at home � is BrE and �home � without �at � is AmE. Kind of simplifying the phrase.
I �m alone at home and I �m at home alone, sounds like no difference in meaning, also as an alternative you can say: �I �m home alone �, while you can �t say �I �m alone home �.
Hope it helps!
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4 Jul 2010
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Catalina Sorina
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I think that when you say "alone at home" you underline that he was alone and not with somebody else, at home. If you say "at home alone" this means he/she wasn �t in the park alone, but at home, and he was alone. MHO.
Catalina |
4 Jul 2010
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ueslteacher
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Hello blunderbuster, You were probably asking the native speakers here... The only difference I see between the two (at home, home) is that in one case (at home) it �s a noun in the other (home) it �s an adverb. And as to the alone again it depends on whether you use it as an adjective (and in this case it �s predicative -- she �s alone at home) or as an adverb -- she �s home alone. As to the too you don�t have to put a coma before it when it�s used as also, but when it�s used in the meaning of what is more, or to make the situation worse you do put a coma. Take care, Sophia P. S. Now, that I�ve looked at the links, I finally got it that you already have your questions answered, sorry to take the space
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4 Jul 2010
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blunderbuster
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Thank you, ladies ;o) I appreciate everyone �s help.
@ Everyone: I would like to ask one more question: When is "or not" an acceptable replacement for a question tag?
Regards
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4 Jul 2010
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ueslteacher
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I think you should say "acceptable as a negative alternative" not a replacement for a question tag. It is used as a negative alternative in questions beginning with Are you, Can she, Shall we and the like. BTW in such cases of doubt Oxford Advanced Learner �s Dictionary comes really handy. The reason I like it the most is because the explanations are very clear and there are lots of examples plus they explain the differences in the use of synonyms. That �s it. Sophia
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4 Jul 2010
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blunderbuster
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Now, is this a perfect explanation or not? ;o)
I was hoping you would say that, Sophia, because that was the only explanantion I could up with myself. I am still learning where to look things up.
Thank you, so much, Sophia!
Regards
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4 Jul 2010
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ueslteacher
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BTW it �s so old it �s not even in the Oxford Advanced Learner �s Dictionary, but it �s in the Webster �s though
So nowadays it�s either tag questions or question tags. :- ) Sophia |
4 Jul 2010
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Oh my god, I have leant a whole new grammar term again. ;o) Thank you so much again Sophia.