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Jandi

#67577 Fri, 14 Jan 05 09:40 AM

1. I was at a loss [about] what I should do.
2. I was at a loss [about] what to do.
Q1. Can we omit 'about' in the sentences above? Some says OK, and some say not. Who is correct?

3. I was at a loss to know what to do.
Q2. Can we use S3 with the same meaning as S1& S2?

Thank you very much.
Best regards.

Jandi

Joined on Tue, Sep 7 2004

Full Member (348)

Regards

Mister Micawber

#67608 Fri, 14 Jan 05 02:34 PM

They all mean the same.

I can locate no specific ruling on the ellipsis of this prepositon, Ms. Jandi, but I can tell you that the sentences without the 'about' are common and clear, and sound quite natural to me.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (23,435)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'