Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Vocabulary/At-all"

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(Created page with "'''At all''' '''1. "At all" with a negative''' '''We often use "at all" to emphasize a negative idea.'''  Examples: I did not understand anything at all. (= I did not und...")
 
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'''At all'''
<div style="font-size:300%;"> At all</div>
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'''1. "At all" with a negative'''
=="At all" with a negative==


'''We often use "at all" to emphasize a negative idea.''' 
'''We often use "at all" to emphasize a negative idea.''' 
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She was hardly frightened at all.
She was hardly frightened at all.


''' '''


'''2. Questions, etc'''
==Questions, etc==


'''"At all" can also be used in questions, and with 'non-affirmative’ words like if, ever and any.''' 
'''"At all" can also be used in questions, and with 'non-affirmative’ words like if, ever and any.''' 


Examples:
===Examples:===


Do you play piano at all? (= . . . even a little?)
Do you play piano at all? (= . . . even a little?)
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You can come whenever you like - any time at all.
You can come whenever you like - any time at all.


''' '''
==Not at all==
 
'''3.  "Not at all"'''


'''The expression "not at all" is used (especially in British English) as a rather formal answer to "Thank you" and to "Do you mind if. . .?"'''
'''The expression "not at all" is used (especially in British English) as a rather formal answer to "Thank you" and to "Do you mind if. . .?"'''

Revision as of 10:02, 27 January 2021

At all

"At all" with a negative

We often use "at all" to emphasize a negative idea. 

Examples:

I did not understand anything at all. (= I did not understand even a little.)

She was hardly frightened at all.


Questions, etc

"At all" can also be used in questions, and with 'non-affirmative’ words like if, ever and any. 

Examples:

Do you play piano at all? (= . . . even a little?)

He will come before dinner if he comes at all.

You can come whenever you like - any time at all.

Not at all

The expression "not at all" is used (especially in British English) as a rather formal answer to "Thank you" and to "Do you mind if. . .?"