Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Tetsu]

Are the following sentences correct?
What do they mean?

S11: Where did he go?
S12: Where did he go from?

S21: Where did he come?
S22: Where did he come from?

S31: Where did he leave?
S32: Where did he leave from?

S41: Where did he start?
S42: Where did he start from?

S51:Where did he swim?
S52:Where did he swim from?

If they are used in some very, very specific situation, please tell me that.

I posted a similar question titled "Where is he going?" on Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:59 p.m. Please refer to it if necessary.

Thanks a lot for the help.

[CP]

S11: Where did he go? Correct.
S12: Where did he go from? Incorrect. One goes to, not from, a place.

S21: Where did he come? Incorrect.
S22: Where did he come from? Correct. See above.

S31: Where did he leave? Incorrect. When / why / how did he leave would be OK.
S32: Where did he leave from? Correct. One leaves from a place.

S41: Where did he start? Can be OK, but only in some contexts. You can start a crossword puzzle anywhere. Where did he start when he worked this puzzle?
S42: Where did he start from? Correct. One starts from a place.

S51:Where did he swim? OK if you mean which of several places (pools, beaches, lakes) he went swimming.
S52:Where did he swim from? OK to mean where he started swimming to end up here.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[redset]

[Tetsu]

Hello PC

I understand your explanation well.

Would you give some more situation examples where S41 is used. I'd like to understand its meaning or feeling better.

Thanks!
_________________
Tetsu

[Tetsu]

Hello CP

In the following situations, which is correct, A or B?

Situation 1
X said he completed a ddifficuolt picture with a single stroke of the brush. Y heard that from Z and wanted to confirm if X actually did it himself and asks Y. Which does X say, A or B?
A: Where did he start?
B: Where did he start from?

Situation 2
X's team is runing a 400 meter relay. Y, a runner of X's team, dropped the baton and a runner behind him kicked it about 20 meters ahead and Y ran after it and picked it up, but he doesn't know how to continue the race. Which does Y say to the judge, A or B?
A: Where should I start?
B: Where should I start from?

Situation 3
X was teaching an English thick textbook to his class and suddenly felt a stomach ache and was carried to the hospital. 10 minutes after, Y, another English teacher, came to his class to teach and asked the students what he should teach. Which does Y say to the class, A or B?
A: Where should I start?
B: Where should I start from?

Situation 4
X bought a big farm which has rich wheat. He came to the farm with a combine harvester and asks his men. Which does X say to his men, A or B?
A: Where should we start?
B: Where should we start from?

Tanks!
_________________
Tetsu

[Tetsu]

Hello redset

Thanks a lot for your kind help.

You said "it's definitely possible in other sentences." I read all examples on the page you suggested but I don't understand the situation where S12 is natural.

Would you give some situation examples where S12 is natural?

Thanks!
_________________
Tetsu

[CP]

Hm. Where should I start? At the beginning, I guess.

First: "Would you give some more situation examples where S41 is used. I'd like to understand its meaning or feeling better."

The starting lineup for a team is all the starters who start at the various positions. If Joe played the game, I might ask, "Where did he start?" "At quarterback, of course."

Sally, 5, did a drawing of her family and pets. "Where did she start?" "With the dog and cat."

Phil is an emcee and talk show host. He's been in the business for decades. "Where did he start?" "At a little radio station in Ohio."

Second:

Situation 1
B: Where did he start from?

Situation 2
B: Where should I start from?

Situation 3
B: Where should I start from?

Situation 4
A: Where should we start?
B: Where should we start from?
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Tetsu]

Hello CP

Now I understand well the difference between with from and without from.
I'm so happy!

Thanks!
_________________
Tetsu