CACH DUNG GIOI TU AT

0At can indicate location Pattern 1: at + the + place within a city or town The women are at the supermarket. Nouns commonly used with this pattern: apartment, bus stop, factory, hospital, hotel, house, mall, office, park, parking lot, restaurant, station, store, theater, university Pattern 2: at + an address She lives at 3757 North 52nd Street, apartment 10. You can contact him by e-mail@ xyz.com. (The symbol@ is pronounced //at:') Pattern 3: at+ the+ place within another place He was waiting in the room at the door. He likes to sit in her apartment at the window facing the park. Nouns commonly used with this pattern: counter, desk, table, window f) At indicates a place of attendance. Pattern 1: be + at + 0 place or meal of regular attendance The children are at school. We aren't allowed to watch television when we are at dinner. Nouns used with this pattern: church, class, home, practice, school, work breakfast, lunch, dinner Pattern 2: be + at + noun of event They are at the movies. She is at a meeting. Nouns commonly used with this pattern: breakfast, brunch, celebration, concert, conference, dance, debate, dinner, forum, function, funeral, game, lecture, luncheon, meeting, movies, parade, party, play, program, reading, reunion, show, wedding E) At can indicate in the direction of;toward. Pattern 1: verb + at + noun The teacher smiled at the new girl. Verbs commonly used with this pattern: aim, frown, glare, grab, grin, growl, hit, howl, laugh, leer, look, rush, shoot, shout, slap, smile, snatch, stare, swear, swing, wink, yell Pattern 2: verb + noun + at + noun The small boy threw a rock at the window. Typical verbs: swing, throw, toss Expression with this meaning: make a pass at-indicate romantic interest toward The young man made a pass at the beautiful woman he met at the party. 0At is used to express time. Pattern: at + specific time We are leaving at four thirty. They went home at midnight. We always eat lunch at noon. Expressions with this meaning: at first-when something started At first we thought this hike would be easy. at last-finally After that long drive, we are home at last. at length-for a long time, thoroughly We discussed that topic at length at our meeting. at night-when it is night I always read or study at night. at once-immediately (see also number at a time, below) We must pack up and leave at once. at present-now At present they are sleeping. at the beginning-at first, when something started At the beginning we tried to go too fast. at the end-when something ended At the end of the story, everybody was happy. at the moment-at present, now I am very busy at the moment. at the sound,thought,or prospect of-when one experiences She gets nervous at the sound of his voice. We shudder at the thought of moving again. He is excited at the prospect of going to South America. tnumber) at a time-ratio per instance or unit The tall boy liked to go up the steps two or three at a time. at once-several things together Try to learn one step at a time, rather than three or four at once. 0At can mean busy using something; working. Pattern 1: at + the + noun I have been at the computer all day. Nouns often used after at the: cash register, computer, fax machine, ironing board, sewing machine, stove, (steering) wheel Pattern 2: be +at+ work be +at+ it You must not bother him; he is at work. He has been at it for four hours. Expression: keep at it-not stop working He wanted to go home, but he kept at it until the work was finished. 0At can indicate a condition. Pattern: be +at+ 0 noun Those two countries have been at peace for ten years. Nouns used after at: attention, ease, peace, rest, risk, war Expression: sick at heart-sad We were sick at heart when the dog died. 8At can indicate reaction. Pattern 1: adjective of state + at + noun We were shocked at the condition of the classrooms. Typical adjectives used before at: aghast, amazed, astonished, astounded, indignant, shocked, speechless, surprised, thrilled, upset Pattern 2: verb+ at+ noun The crowd rejoiced at the good news. Verbs commonly used before at: cheer, grumble, guess, hint, hoot, laugh, rebel, rejoice, snort, tremble E) At indicates a degree of skill. Pattern 1: adjective + at + noun Your son is good at tennis, but not very good at hockey. Pattern 2: adjective + at + verb in gerund form That couple is really great at dancing the tango. Typical adjectives used before at: bad, excellent, good, great, lou sy, skilled, terrible Expression: be an old hand at-be very experienced with Our professor is an old hand at government operations. 0At can indicate a rate or level Pattern 1: at + noun indicating price At the market they are selling apples at sixty-nine cents a pound. I wish we could buy mangoes at that price. Her husband tries to buy everything at a discount. Pattern 2: @* + number + a + noun indicating a unit of measurement They are selling apples @ 69( a lb. Pattern 3: at+ noun indicating level of age or distance You shouldn't work so hard at your age. He was still singing at (the age of) eighty. We can't see very well at this distance. The plane was flying at three thousand feet. Expressions: at a distance-from far away I saw the new baby at a distance, and he looked beautiful. at arm's length-not close I try to stay at arm's length from him to avoid an argument. Pattern 4: at + noun indicating level of speed She shouldn't drive at that speed. At twenty-five miles an hour on the freeway, she should get a ticket. Exception: When speed is expressed in numbers after a verb,at is omitted. That driver is going eighty miles an hour. He drove sixty miles an hour the whole way home. G) At can indicate the highest possible degree in value. Pattern: at+ superlative adjective used as noun At best she is an adequate typist. At least she comes to work every day. You should be here by five o'clock at the latest. Superlatives commonly used with this pattern: best, least, most, worst the earliest, the latest 4D Expressions be at an advantage-be in a better-than-average position He is at an advantage because his family has influence. be at a disadvantage-be in a less-than-average position When you are a newcomer at work, you are at a disadvantage. *@ is pronounced " at:' This meaning and the one for an e-mail address (section 11.1) are the only acceptable uses of this symbol. PART ONE: THE PREPOSITIONS 27 down at the heels-shabby His brother looked down at the heels when he was without work. at one's mercy-in someone else's power I was at the intruder's mercy because he had a gun in my back. at one's discretion-someone's own decision We can go home when we are ready, at our own discretion. at that- 1. at that point, not any more or further You did a good job; leave it at that. 2. illogically We got lost, and in our hometown at that! be getting at-meaning, but not saying The manager didn't exactly say his employer had been dishonest, but we all knew what he was getting at. 0Phrasal verb pick at something (nonseparable)-agitate with one's fingernails The child picked at the scab on his knee.