1. I can't concentrate on work.
2. I can't concentrate at work.
3. I can't concentrate (on something) at work.
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Which one is correct? Does #1 mean #3? •English - Writeacher, Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 8:46am
1 and 2 are fine, but mean different things.
3 will be fine once the parentheses are removed.
1 and 3 are very close, but not identical in meaning.
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Thank you for your help.
1. I can't concentrate on work.
2. I can't concentrate at work.
3. I can't concentrate (on something) at work.
4. I can't concentrate/ in the workplace because a building is under construction. (example sentence)
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Does #2 mean #4? I cannot concentrate on what I should do in/at my workplace because of the noise.
In #1, I am not in my workplace. I may be in my workplace. I may not be in my workplace. Anyway, wherever I am, I cannot concentrate on what I have to do.
In #1, I may be in the workplace or in another place. In #2, I am in the workplace. Is my explanation right?
Yes, you are correct in your explanation. Let's break down the meanings of each sentence:
1. "I can't concentrate on work." This means that regardless of where you are, whether it's in your workplace or elsewhere, you are having difficulty focusing on your tasks or duties related to work.
2. "I can't concentrate at work." This specifically refers to your inability to focus while you are physically present in your workplace. It suggests that there may be specific distractions or factors in your work environment that are hindering your concentration.
3. "I can't concentrate (on something) at work." This sentence is similar to the first one, but it adds the possibility of being able to concentrate on something else, such as personal matters or non-work-related tasks, while at work. It implies that your lack of concentration is specifically related to work-related tasks or responsibilities.
4. "I can't concentrate in the workplace because a building is under construction." This sentence provides an example that explains the reason for your lack of concentration at work. In this case, the noise from the construction is causing distractions and making it difficult for you to focus on your work tasks.
So, in summary, #2 does not mean exactly the same as #4. #2 implies a general difficulty concentrating in the workplace, while #4 specifies a particular reason for the lack of concentration, which is the noise from the construction.
1. I can't concentrate on work.
2. I can't concentrate at work.
3. I can't concentrate (on something) at work.
4. I can't concentrate/ in the workplace because a building is under construction. (example sentence)
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Does #2 mean #4? I cannot concentrate on what I should do in/at my workplace because of the noise. Yes
In #1, I am not in my workplace. I may be in my workplace. I may not be in my workplace. Anyway, wherever I am, I cannot concentrate on what I have to do. Right
In #1, I may be in the workplace or in another place. In #2, I am in the workplace. Is my explanation right?
Yes, your explanations are right.