When people say the alarm is off, does it mean its turned on (beeping...ringing...etc) or does it mean is actually turned off (no sound)?
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. When the alarm is off, there is no sound.
how about when the alarm went off?
Just as you said -- "the alarm went off."
If it is off, it means it's been turned off and will not make sounds.
If it went off, it means something triggered it and it's making LOTS of noise!
If it is on, it means it's set, but hasn't gone off.
Sometimes, idiomatic uses of words in English are fairly bizarre, aren't they?
=)
When people say the alarm is "off," it means that the alarm is not currently sounding or making any noise. In other words, it is in a deactivated state. This is the opposite of when the alarm is "on," which means that it is activated and set to make a sound at a particular time.
To determine whether the alarm is currently off or on, you can check the alarm device itself. Most alarm clocks or smartphones have a visible indicator or display that shows the status of the alarm. It might show an icon or text indicating whether the alarm is activated or disabled.
If you're still uncertain about the alarm's status, you can set a test alarm for a short period, like a minute or two ahead, and observe whether it makes a sound. Remember to turn it off before it goes off at the set time to avoid any unnecessary disturbance.