at

Everyday

1. At shows where something is: at the shop, at school. tree →
2. At shows when: at noon, at the start. tree →
3. At shows what you look, point or aim towards: look at the board. tree →
4. At gives a price or a speed: at 5 dollars each, at 60 km an hour. tree →
5. At shows how well someone does something: good at maths. tree →
6. (casual) «Where it's at» means where the fun or the action is; «Where are you at?» asks how far you have got. tree →
7. (rough) «Shout at», «have a go at» or «be at someone» means to tell them off or nag them angrily. tree →
8. (formal) The exam voice says «at a rate of», «at a cost of», «at the commencement», «at the conclusion». tree →
9. After a word like "not", "at all" means in any way or to any degree. tree →

In the lessons

«look at the word», «at the start» (the starting amount), «at the end» (the final amount), «at the shop»; in everyday life «at home», «at night», «at last», «at once», «at least», «at all», «good at maths»; prices «at 2 dollars each» point to multiplying; online «@» in an address or before a name; in rough talk «stop having a go at me»; in the exam voice «at a unit cost of», «at the commencement of the period»

Examples

• Not quite. Look at the word «equal»: it tells us to divide. tree →
• At the start Ken had 12 stamps. tree →
• At the shop Mia buys 3 pens. tree →
• We have lunch at twelve o'clock. tree →
• Look at the bird on the fence! tree →
• She is very good at swimming. tree →
• Pencils are sold at 50 cents each. tree →
• At last the bus arrived. tree →
• At least 3 people must play this game. tree →
• at the shops rn, need anything tree →
• Stop having a go at me, I counted them twice! tree →
• At the commencement of the journey a vehicle contained 30 passengers, at a fare of 2 dollars each. tree →
• "He isn't a rabbit at all! tree →

Note

No operation clue; «at the start» marks the starting amount. Trap: «at the end» asks for the amount after all the changes. «3 pens at 50 cents each» hides equal groups: 3 × 50; «at a unit cost of» means the same in an exam. «at least 3» means 3 or more; «at most 3» means 3 or fewer. Use «at» for a point (at the door, at 3 o'clock), «in» for inside or longer times (in the box, in July). «at the commencement» means at the start.

In Jewish tradition

«look at the word», «at the start» (the starting amount), «at the end» (the final amount), «at the shop»; in everyday life «at home», «at night», «at last», «at once», «at least», «at all», «good at maths»; prices «at 2 dollars each» point to multiplying; online «@» in an address or before a name; in rough talk «stop having a go at me»; in the exam voice «at a unit cost of», «at the commencement of the period»

Examples

• And I besought the LORD at that time, saying: (Torah DEU.3.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed unto Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth. (Torah NUM.11.35, JPS 1917) tree →
• At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. (Torah DEU.15.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they went out at noon. (Prophets 1KI.20.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why did I not perish at birth? (Writings JOB.3.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is a nation brought forth at once? (Prophets ISA.66.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

No operation clue; «at the start» marks the starting amount. Trap: «at the end» asks for the amount after all the changes. «3 pens at 50 cents each» hides equal groups: 3 × 50; «at a unit cost of» means the same in an exam. «at least 3» means 3 or more; «at most 3» means 3 or fewer. Use «at» for a point (at the door, at 3 o'clock), «in» for inside or longer times (in the box, in July). «at the commencement» means at the start.