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Anonymous Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

How to interpret tap on, tap at, knock on, knock at

I wonder what differences are between these clauses: "I tap on her window." "I tap at her window." "I knock on her door." "I knock at her door."

I thought firstly that only one form is correct but i browsed the web for it and i found both forms so i think they are both correct but with other interpretations or functions.
  

Top answer

Just different usages, Elaminato, all possible. The 'on' form more clearly indicates the door itself, while the 'at' form stresses the location (her place), but the differences in context would be minor if any. PS: Whatever you did to get a long subject line for this thread, it is not a good idea-- did you include many quotation marks perhaps?

— Mister Micawber

  • Just different usages, Elaminato, all possible.
  • The 'on' form more clearly indicates the door itself, while the 'at' form stresses the location (her place), but the differences in context would be minor if any.
  • PS: Whatever you did to get a long subject line for this thread, it is not a good idea-- did you include many quotation marks perhaps?
  • In any case, I shall shorten it for you.
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1 Answers
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Just different usages, Elaminato, all possible. The 'on' form more clearly indicates the door itself, while the 'at' form stresses the location (her place), but the differences in context would be minor if any.

PS: Whatever you did to get a long subject line for this thread, it is not a good idea-- did you include many quotation marks perhaps? In any case, I shall shorten it for you.
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