late

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HelloLook at this, please:I began to smell a rat when I phoned him at work where he was supposed to be working late and he was not there. ---------Is there not a word that is missing from the sentence?I began to smell a rat when I phoned him at work where he was supposed to be working until late and he was not there. I need your help.Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

No, it's fine the way it is.

You work until a certain time, as in: He was supposed to be working until 10.

However, the word "late" (or "early" for that matter) does not take the word "until."

She worked late that night, and I was suposed to work late too , but I got to leave early when the building lost power.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Look at this, please:

I began to smell a rat when I phoned him at work where he was supposed to be working late and he was not there.

---------

Is there not a word that is missing from the sentence?

I began to smell a rat when I phoned him at work where he was supposed to be working until late and he was not there.

No, 'working late' is a phrase that is widely used and accepted.

This sentence reads as if the speaker began to say it before he had organized his thoughts well. This is certainly how we often speak, but a better-organized and punctuated sentence would be something like this.

When I phoned him at work, where he was supposed to be working late, and he was not there, I began to smell a rat.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you guys

BTW, can I say guys and still be polite?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

In N. America, yes.

Clive

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