posted by rfvv Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 11:42pm
1. He is sitting at the computer.
2. He is working at the computer.
3. He is eating at the computer.
[Are they all grammatical? Is he doing the activities near or in front of the computer?]
Reed Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 1:00am
Yes, all are grammatical. Yes, they all mean, whatever he is doing, he is in front of or near the computer.
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Thank you for your help.
4. He is working at the computer.
5. He is working on the computer.
[What is the difference between them?]
6. He is knocking at the door.
7. He is knocking on the door.
[What about this pair? What is the difference between them?]
"Working at the computer" means he is doing a task (writing a paper, making a spreadsheet, or some other job that can be completed with the help of a computer).
"Working on the computer" could mean either the same as above or that the computer is broken and he's working to fix it.
I've never heard #6, but #7 is quite commonly used.
To answer your questions, let's break down each pair of sentences:
4. "He is working at the computer."
5. "He is working on the computer."
In sentence 4, "working at the computer" implies that the person is physically present near the computer and engaged in some work or activity. It suggests a general location or position.
In sentence 5, "working on the computer" implies that the person is actively engaged in using or operating the computer to perform tasks or complete projects. It focuses on the specific action of using the computer for work-related purposes.
So, the main difference between these sentences lies in the preposition used. "At" suggests a location or position, while "on" suggests a direct interaction or engagement with the object.
Moving on to the next pair:
6. "He is knocking at the door."
7. "He is knocking on the door."
Here, both sentences are correct and commonly used. The difference between the two is subtle and relates to the perspective.
In sentence 6, "knocking at the door" implies that the person is standing outside the door and creating a sound by hitting it. It focuses more on the action done outside the door.
In sentence 7, "knocking on the door" also implies that the person is attempting to create a sound by hitting the door, but it places more focus on the door itself rather than the person's position. It implies that the sound is directed towards the door, regardless of the person's location.
Overall, these pairs demonstrate how slight changes in prepositions can affect the meaning and emphasis of a sentence.