At the door

Question

Are these sentences all correct and do they mean the same:

1) I picked the newspaper up at the door.
2) I picked the newspaper up in front of the door.
3) I picked the newspaper up from in front of the door.

Gratefully,
Navi.

Doctor D · Accepted Answer

They are all correct but they may have slightly different meanings. They could be describing the same event. Or they could be describing slightly different events.

I picked the newspaper up at the door--this is a generalized statement. All you know is that the picking up was done near the door. The location is vague. You were at the door when you picked up the paper (it might have been in the bushes at the side.)

I picked the newspaper up in front of the door--this is more detailed. You were in front of the door when you picked it up. The newspaper might also have been there.

I picked the newspaper up from in front of the door--this is more exact. The paper was located directly in front of the door. That was where you found it.

The problem is the vagueness of location. Are we talking about where you were or where the paper was?

Does this help?

Navitasan · Answer

Thank you very much, Doctor D,

That was a perfect reply! It helps very much. Nobody could have done better!

Thanks again,
Navi.

Anonymous · Answer

Doctor DI picked the newspaper up from in front of the door

Is "picked up from" a prepositional phrasal verb?

Doctor D · Answer

I'm not a grammarian, but I believe so, since it follows the pattern (verb + adverb + preposition) and is similar to the examples given:  "put up with" and "look forward to."

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousIs "picked up from" a prepositional phrasal verb?

PIck up - is a phrasal verb. From - is a preposition, pertained to a location. e.g. Can you pick up Brian from school on your way home?

At the door

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