with or without 'at'

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Anonymous

#439602 Tue, 06 Nov 07 07:33 PM

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.

Anonymous

Grammar Geek

#439615 Tue, 06 Nov 07 08:12 PM

I would use the "at."

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,583)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Anonymous

#439619 Tue, 06 Nov 07 08:45 PM

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.

Anonymous

Grammar Geek

#439626 Tue, 06 Nov 07 09:06 PM

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...

Grammar Geek

Prepositions

CalifJim

#439698 Wed, 07 Nov 07 12:59 AM

where else I would live

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

Smile [:)]

CJ

And I don't know a rule for home of the kind you're looking for. Sad [:(]

I'll cogitate.

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,966)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Cool Breeze

#439849 Wed, 07 Nov 07 02:53 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:
I 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