http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210249Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:210249Clive0http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210249http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-210249.xmlHi, Yes. The Bible says even God took a bit of time to create the world in the beginning. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210247Tue, 26 May 2009 22:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:210247rishonly1http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210247http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-210247.xmlGreat. Thanks, Clive. I am glad that my understanding matches with your explanations. You suggest the usage of 'in the beginning' or 'at the beginning' depends upon the duration of the main action. Right?http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210244Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:210244Clive2http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210244http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-210244.xmlHi Krish, My questions as follows. I am curious to learn the the contexts in which the use of "in/at the beginning/end" would be wrong. I have framed some sentences, using my understanding on this topic. Could you please review them and explain to me if " at " can be replaced by " in " in any of these sentences? (1) I found a hundred-dollar bill at the end/at the beginning of Washington street. Not 'in'. I think a street is more commonly considered to have two 'ends'. It seems a little unusual to speak of its 'beginning'. Google confiems this. (2) In the beginning ,I thought the caller was a female. This suggests I spent some time with this understanding. 'At' is OK, but suggests I found out the truth immediately. (3) At...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210216Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:210216rishonly3http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#210216http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-210216.xmlHi Clive, My questions as follows. I am curious to learn the the contexts in which the use of "in/at the beginning/end" would be wrong. I have framed some sentences, using my understanding on this topic. Could you please review them and explain to me if " at " can be replaced by " in " in any of these sentences? (1) I found a hundred-dollar bill at the end/at the beginning of Washington street. (2) In the beginning ,I thought the caller was a female. (3) At the beginning of the tele-conference, I thought the caller was a female. (4) My home is at the end of Washington street. (5) I was waiting for my friend at a movie theater for an hour ,and he didn't show up at all. In the end , I left the theater with frustration....http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209947Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:209947rishonly4http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209947http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-209947.xmlClive wrote: Hi Krish, Well, the difference is so little, and so subtle sometimes, that I really think a lot depends on the sentence and context. And even then, they may sometimes be interchanged. If you like, post a few sample sentences to illustrate where you may feel unsure. Clive Hi Clive, Thanks. I will post few sentences tomorrow.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209940Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:209940Clive5http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209940http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-209940.xmlHi Krish, Well, the difference is so little, and so subtle sometimes, that I really think a lot depends on the sentence and context. And even then, they may sometimes be interchanged. If you like, post a few sample sentences to illustrate where you may feel unsure. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209935Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:209935rishonly6http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209935http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-209935.xmlThanks for the examples and explanation, Clive. I have learned that "in the end" means "finally", and "at the end" is used to indicate 'at the end' of something;where 'something' is a noun. Therefore, in the same way, I derived the meanings of 'in the beginning' and 'at the beginning' in such a way that "In the beginning" means 'initially' and "At the beginning" means at the 'at the beginning' of something;where something is a noun. With the above understanding, I was thinking "In the beginning" woule be more suitable in the example sentence;however, now I understand the difference between them is subtle. Does my understanding match with your thoughts and explanations on this topic?, or Am I totally out of track?http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209920Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:209920Clive7http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htm#209920http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-209920.xmlHi, "It's all about the focus of the investigation," she said. " At the beginning , this was a search. It's still a search, but the focus now of the search is as a criminal investigation." (quoted from cnn.com) Should it be "At the beginning" or "In the beginning"? These phrases are very similar, it often makes little difference which you use. Perhaps 'at' focuses more on the point of beginning, and 'in' more on the period of beginning. Consider - From the Sound of Music: Song: Do-Re-Mi Lyrics. Let's start at the very beginning A very good place to start When you read you begin with ABC When you sing you begin with do-re-mi From the Bible: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htmThu, 26 Mar 2009 23:05:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:209905rishonly8http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtTheBeginning/cwmzg/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-209905.xml"It's all about the focus of the investigation," she said. " At the beginning , this was a search. It's still a search, but the focus now of the search is as a criminal investigation." (quoted from cnn.com) Should it be "At the beginning" or "In the beginning"?