with or without 'at'

Question

Hi,I left my watch at home when I went to work.I left my watch home when I went to work.Should we use 'at home' or 'home' without 'at' here?  Thanks.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

I would use the "at."

Anonymous · Answer

Hi GG,

Thank you for your reply. Sould 'at' be included in the following sentences?
1.He lives at home.
or
He lives home.

2.He works at home.
or
He works home.

3.He stayed at home all day yesterday.
or
He stayed home all day yesterday.

4.Is anybody at home?
or
Is anybody home?

Thank you very much.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I go home, and I stay home, and I am home.

But I work at home, and live at home (although where else I would live, I'm not sure).

These things seem to be idiomatic, but someone like CJ might have a rule that helps determine. Certainly, with motion involved, there's no preposition: I went home, I ran home, I returned home...

CalifJim · Answer

where else I would live

Well, what with the current 'subprime crisis', on the street is a possibility for some!

CJ

And I don't know a rule for homeof the kind you're looking for.

I'll cogitate.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Grammar GeekI go home, and I stay home, and I am home.
Certainly, with motion involved, there's no preposition: I went home, I ran home, I returned home...

Hi GG

That's certainly always true. However, especially in literary style and in upper-class British English there is a tendency to use at in all other cases. If Prime Minister James Hacker in a superb television series entitled Yes, Prime Minister were to tell somebody his whereabouts, I think he would say: I am at home.

In casual conversation people say: I'm home even in Britain.

Cheers
CB

with or without 'at'

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