View Single Post
  #17 (permalink)  
Old 10-Sep-2003, 16:25
RonBee's Avatar
RonBee RonBee is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Country: USA
Posts: 13,536
Current Location: North Carolina
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
Thanks: 73
Thanked 896 Times in 801 Posts
RonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: "stay at home" and "stay home"?

"Stay at home" revisited. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by simile
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee
Quote:
-->My brother was told to stay home last night, but he went to the movies.
-->My brother should have stayed at home last night.
In the second sentence, you can delete the at and the sentence will mean the same thing. Both are used. BTW, a "stay at home" is somebody who doesn't like to go out much.
===========================================

Therefore, there is still "different" connotation for each of the two expressions.
"Stay at home" has something to do with the "willingness" of a person,
while "stay home" only means the condition of a person.
However, without considering the connotation, the expression with at and without at are all fine and acceptable sentences.
It should be "there are different connotations" (but there aren't). I disagree with your analysis. There is no difference in meaning between the two. It is only a matter of speaking habits.

(Say: "The expression with at and without at are both fine and acceptable sentences.")

:)
Reply With Quote