Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Vocabulary/At-all"
< Language | English | Vocabulary
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
'''We often use "at all" to emphasize a negative idea.''' | '''We often use "at all" to emphasize a negative idea.''' | ||
Examples: | ===Examples:=== | ||
*I did not understand anything at all. (= I did not understand even a little.) | *I did not understand anything at all. (= I did not understand even a little.) | ||
*She was hardly frightened at all. | *She was hardly frightened at all. | ||
==Questions, etc== | ==Questions, etc== | ||
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. . .?"