Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[sleeper]

Hi, there.

Today I'd like to ask you about the prepositions.

Question #1.
Look at the following prepositional phrases.
(1) at home
(2) at work
(3) at school
Do these at's have the same meaning?
What do these at's indicate?
Position, place, manner, or what?

Question #2.
Look at the following sentences.
(1) He is at home now.
(2) He is at the home now.
(3) He is in the home now.
The sentence (1) must be the most common way to say.
But are the sentences (2) and (3) possible?
If so, are there any difference in meaning?

I'd appreciate it if you give me an immediate reply.

Thanks.

[Nef]

Question #1.
Look at the following prepositional phrases.
(1) at home
(2) at work
(3) at school
Do these at's have the same meaning?
What do these at's indicate?
Position, place, manner, or what?

Someone who is "at home" is where he or she lives.
Someone who is "at work" is where he or she works OR is working.
Someone who is "at school" is where he or she attends school.

Place and function/action are both important. For instance, someone who is visiting customers might be said to be "at work" even though he or she is not in the office. But a student who is studying where he or she lives would NOT be at school. That person would be studying at home.

Question #2.
Look at the following sentences.
(1) He is at home now.
(2) He is at the home now.
(3) He is in the home now.
The sentence (1) must be the most common way to say.
But are the sentences (2) and (3) possible?
If so, are there any difference in meaning?

In (2) and (3), "the home" gives me the idea of a PARTICULAR home. I wouldn't use these phrases to mean the same thing as (1). (Other people may see this differently.)