Teacher Discussion Forums

[Itasan]

"She paused at the bottom of the stairs."
I wonder where she paused.
On the last step or so? Or on the floor?

Thank you.

[markkarina]

This phrase means, as she was walking down the stairs she stop near or at the bottom because she was thinking of something. This thought caused her to "pause". The reason for the pause is the subject in the sentence and where she was on the stairs when she paused is not important.