What is the Grammatical use of "At"

What is the Grammatical use of "At" in English Grammar

Grammatical Use of "at"

The word "at" can be used as a preposition or an adverb in different contexts. Here are some explanations and examples of how to use "at" in different grammatical categories.

Preposition

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another word in a sentence. The preposition "at" can be used to indicate various meanings, such as time, place, rate, direction, event, achievement, point, or age.

Time

"At" is used to indicate a specific point in time. It is used with clock times and precise moments.

Example: "I will meet you at 4 p.m." means the meeting is scheduled for exactly 4 p.m.

Place

"At" is used to indicate a specific location, position, or point in space.

Example: "They arrived at the park" means they reached and are located in the park.

Rate/Price

"At" is used to indicate the value or rate of something.

Example: "The product is priced at $10" means the cost of the product is $10.

Direction

"At" is used to indicate the target or destination of an action.

Example: "She threw the ball at the target" means she aimed and threw the ball towards the target.

Event/Situation

"At" is used to indicate the occurrence or presence of a particular event or situation.

Example: "I laughed at the joke" means laughter was a response to the joke.

Achievement/Skill

"At" is used to indicate proficiency or accomplishment in a specific area or skill.

Example: "He excels at playing the piano" means he possesses great skill and proficiency in playing the piano.

Point/Stage

"At" is used to indicate a specific point or stage in a process or sequence.

Example: "We are at the beginning of the process" means the current position is the starting point of the process.

Age

"At" is used to indicate a particular age or stage in one's life.

Example: "She got married at the age of 30" means she got married when she reached the age of 30.

Adverb

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It usually answers questions such as how, when, where, why, or to what extent. The adverb "at" can be used to indicate various meanings, such as time, quantity, or rate.

Time

"At" is used to describe a precise moment or point in time.

Example: "They arrived at the same moment" means they all reached the destination at exactly the same time.

Quantity/Rate

"At" is used to describe a specific quantity or rate.

Example: "He can type at a speed of 100 words per minute" means his typing speed is 100 words per minute.