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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I have checked out the library but it wasn't there.

I'm sorry to have lost your note. I have checked out the library but it wasn't there!

Hi,
Is it clearer to rewrite the above as the following? Thanks.

I'm sorry to have lost your notebook. I have checked on the library but it wasn't there!
  

Top answer

Angliholic I'm sorry to have lost your notebook . I have checked on the library but it wasn't there! That's ok except you should use " at the library ".

— Huevos

  • Angliholic I'm sorry to have lost your notebook .
  • I have checked on the library but it wasn't there!
  • That's ok except you should use " at the library ".
  • Some people might use " in the library " but never " on the library ".
  • Edit: Also I think I'd say: " [I'm] sorry I [have] lost your notebook ".
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12 Answers
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AngliholicI'm sorry to have lost your notebook. I have checked on the library but it wasn't there!
That's ok except you should use "at the library". Some people might use "in the library" but never "on the library".
Edit: Also I think I'd say: "[I'm] sorry I
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(How could you lose the library?)

I think "checked out" is more natural in this context. Also, it would be easier to find a notebook than a note.

Best wishes, - A.
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Huevos
AngliholicI'm sorry to have lost your notebook. I have checked on the library but it wasn't there!
That's ok except you should use "at the library". Some people might use "in the library" but never "on the library".

Edit: Also I think I'd say: "[I'm]
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Avangi(How could you lose the library?)

I think "checked out" is more natural in this context. Also, it would be easier to find a notebook than a note.

Best wishes, - A.

Thanks, Avangi.
But I didn't imply I lost the library, did I?
To make sure, do you mean "checked out the library" sound as good as "checked
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It would be idiomatic to say, "I've lost my keys! You check the car and I'll check [out/on] the library." "Up" is okay, but it doesn't really add anything. Just don't say, "I'll check up the library."

Check out, check up, check on, check up on, and check in all have special meanings, as I'm sure you know. Try to avoid adding unnecessary prepositions. You can che
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Thanks, Avangi,
Got it.
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AngliholicI meant to have said "I have checked up on the library." Doesn't it sound right to you?
No. Same as above. "I have checked at the library". "Checked up on" means "investigate, scrutinize, or inspect" and that is not what you are doing to the library.
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Avangicheck [out/on] the library
"Check out" is OK here (colloquial), but not "check on" which means the same as "check up on", as above, is not. Proper context would be something like "I'm going to check on the baby to see if she's asleep yet".
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Huevos
AngliholicI meant to have said "I have checked up on the library." Doesn't it sound right to you?
No. Same as above. "I have checked at the library". "Checked up on" means "investigate, scrutinize, or inspect" and that is not what you are doing to the library.

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AngliholicHow come?
Check outmy last post (bottom of page 1). If you were to say "I checked on the library" it would be the library itself that was of interest, not some item that might have inadvertently been left there.
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