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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

To, at

0 I have a question about "to" and "at". I seems to me I have read about the use of preposition in the "phrase "open your book". When the teacher tells the students for the first time to open their books, he will say "Open your books at page 111." Later, when the teacher refers them to page 150, he will say "Turn to page 150." Is this correct? Before the book is "opened", can we say "turn to page 111"? thanks very much. 0-
  

Top answer

0 Hi, guest, 02br 00It is the verb "turn" that requires a "to": Turn to page 111. 02br 00But you open a book AT a page. 02br 00The sentence you suggest (Turn to page 111) is grammatically correct but you can only turn to a page if you have already opend the book AT a certain page.

— Miche

  • 0 Hi, guest, 02br 00It is the verb "turn" that requires a "to": Turn to page 111.
  • 02br 00But you open a book AT a page.
  • 02br 00The sentence you suggest (Turn to page 111) is grammatically correct but you can only turn to a page if you have already opend the book AT a certain page.
  • If you haven't opened the book, you cannot turn to another page.
  • That's why "at" is used when the book is still closed.
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10 Answers
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0 Hi, guest, 02br
00It is the verb "turn" that requires a "to": Turn to page 111. 02br
00But you open a book AT a page. 02br
00The sentence you suggest (Turn to page 111) is grammatically correct but you can only turn to a page if you have already opend the book AT a certain page. If you haven't opened the book, you cannot turn to another page. That's why "at"
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0As far as the prepositions themselves are concerned, 'at' is a preposition of location, and 'to' is a preposition of movement. Turning pages is a movement through the books, so that we '01b00turn from02b00 the illustration at (or 'on') page 17 01b00to02b00 the explanation at/on page 20'. 02br
02br
00Contrariwise, 'opening' is n
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0 Mr. M -- Opening does not indicate movement? I would say it indicates movement from the outside of the book to a particular place inside the book. I would naturally say "Please open your books to page 39." If you really want me to switch to "at," you're going to have to make a more convincing case! (As for closing the book, I don't think you close your book at -- or to-- a particular page
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0It may well be in the mind of the beholder, Jackie. 'Opening' is a movement of course, but I see 'opening' as occuring at a place or point, while you may not; 'open /close to' sounds strange to me-- but that is just, as always, my personal opinion. 02br
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0 Hello Mic and Khoff 02br
02br
00I have long said "open your books at page X" rather than "open your books 0101b00to02b00 page X". But curiously a Google survey gives the result as follows: 02br
00"open your books at page X" : 380 hits 02br
00"open your books to page X" : 2080 hits 02br
02br
00
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0 01blockquote
00I have long said "open your books at page X" rather than "open your books at page X". 12blockquote
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02br
00Paco - I'm sure this is a typo, but you seem to have obliterated the distinction you're trying to make. Which form do you prefer? 0-
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0 Khoff 02br
02br
00Thank you for pointing out the typo. I corrected it as you see now. I've been used to saying "open your books 01i00at02i00 page ..." rather than "open your books 01i00to02i00 page ...". 02br
02br
00paco 0-
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0 My two cents. 02br
02br
00I don't use "at" with either of these. "at" sounds distinctly strange to me. 02br
02br
00Open ... to page ***. 02br
00Turn ... to page ***. 02br
02br
00CJ 0-
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0 Sites of ".EDU" domain 02br
00Open your books to page: 53 hits/ Open your books at page: 0 hits 02br
02br
00Sites of ".UK" domain 02br
00Open your books to page: 12 hits/ Open your books at page: 11 hits 02br
02br
00"Open your books at page" is BrE? 02br
02br
00paco 0-
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0 I'd use 'at'; I'd be surprised to hear a BrE say 'open...to' (though it would certainly be comprehensible). 02br
02br
00MrP 0-
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