ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: breakfast

Tidus — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:59:26 GMT

"I didn't eat breakfast today" does not imply anything. It just means that you didn't have, or skipped, breakfast.

Where food is on the table, "I didn't eat breakfast today", is probably only correct if it is followed by the reason why you didn't eat the food e.g: "I didn't eat breakfast today because I wasn't hungry".

Re: breakfast

Clive — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:58:44 GMT

Hi guys,

a. I skipped breakfast today.

b. I didn't have breakfast today.

Both seem fine to me, and they can often be interchanged. However, 'skipped' suggests a little to me to me that the decision not to eat was mine. On the other hand, in case (b) it may be that I wanted breakfast but I couldn't eat it. eg My breakfast was on the table but there was a sudden earthquake.

'Skipped' also suggests that I usually eat breakfast, while (b) gives no information about my habits.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: breakfast

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:45:45 GMT

"I skipped breakfast today."

"I didn't have breakfast today."

Both are equally acceptable to me

"In my opinion, they're both correct and natural. I use the former - just a matter of personal preference." Each to his own.

Also, I was thinking that 'I didn't eat breakfast today' might suggest "There was breakfast ready on the table but I gave it a miss." Is that assumption correct?

Both connote this idea.

Re: breakfast

Tidus — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:43:02 GMT

Pastsimple wrote:
Hi,

which of the sentences below is more common where you live?

a. I skipped breakfast today.

b. I didn't have breakfast today.

In my opinion, they're both correct and natural. I use the former - just a matter of personal preference.

Also, I think that I didn't eat breakfast today might be suggesting "There was breakfast ready on the table but I gave it a miss." Is that assumption correct?

Thank you in advance.

"I skipped breakfast today" is fine.

"I didn't have breakfast today" is fine.

"I didn't eat breakfast today" is just another way of saying "I skipped breakfast today", or, "I didn't have breakfast today". It doesn't imply that breakfast was served and that you didn't eat it.

breakfast

Pastsimple — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:17:31 GMT

Hi,

which of the sentences below is more common where you live?

a. I skipped breakfast today.

b. I didn't have breakfast today.

In my opinion, they're both correct and natural. I use the former - just a matter of personal preference.

Also, I think that I didn't eat breakfast today might be suggesting "There was breakfast ready on the table but I gave it a miss." Is that assumption correct?

Thank you in advance.