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Nakamura Yo Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Difference between 'shot' and 'shot at'.
Is there any difference between the following sentences?
'He shot a bird with a rifle.'
'He shot at a bird with a rifle.'
'He shot a bird with a rifle.'
'He shot at a bird with a rifle.'
Top answer
Yes: in the first, he hit the bird; in the second, he probably did not.
- Yes: in the first, he hit the bird; in the second, he probably did not.
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6 Answers
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Yes: in the first, he hit the bird; in the second, he probably did not.
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Thanks for your reply, Mister Micawber.
How about these sentences below:
'He threw a ball at me.'
'He threw a ball to me.'
Did the ball actually reach me in both sentences?
How about these sentences below:
'He threw a ball at me.'
'He threw a ball to me.'
Did the ball actually reach me in both sentences?
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Nakamura YoDid the ball actually reach me in both sentences?There is no way to judge.
In #1, the ball is a weapon; in #2 the ball is in a game of catch.
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Thanks so much again.
I thought 'threw a ball to me' implies "the ball actually reached me."
If I may, I'd like to ask another question.
If I'm not mistaken, a sentence "I sent a letter to her." implies that she actually received the letter I had sent.
Then, why wouldn't the sentence "He threw a ball to me." imply that I actually received the ball?
Or am I incorrect in the firs
I thought 'threw a ball to me' implies "the ball actually reached me."
If I may, I'd like to ask another question.
If I'm not mistaken, a sentence "I sent a letter to her." implies that she actually received the letter I had sent.
Then, why wouldn't the sentence "He threw a ball to me." imply that I actually received the ball?
Or am I incorrect in the firs
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Nakamura YoI thought 'threw a ball to me' implies "the ball actually reached me."Not necessarily.
Nakamura YoIf I'm not mistaken, a sentence "I sent a letter to her." implies that she actually received the letter I had sent.Then, why wouldn't the sentence "He threw a ball to me." imply that I actually received the ball?It'
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Thanks a lot every time, fivejedjon.
Now I see it all depends on contexts. In my country, Japan, English text books tend to neglect the contexts of example sentences and explain grammatical rules in a pretty strict manner.
I've read a book that says 'having sent a letter to someone' assures that the person actually have received the letter and that's the function of 'to' here. Then I thou
Now I see it all depends on contexts. In my country, Japan, English text books tend to neglect the contexts of example sentences and explain grammatical rules in a pretty strict manner.
I've read a book that says 'having sent a letter to someone' assures that the person actually have received the letter and that's the function of 'to' here. Then I thou
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