To Throw

[apparrode]

Hello !

I´ve just registered !

When I want to "hit" sb or sth, I use the preposition AT after "throw", right ?! Eg: "I threw a stone at the window/ at the cat" etc...

- But do I throw things AT or TO/ ON the floor ?

e.g: The gipsies have the habit of throwing dishes AT / ON the floor ?

Thanks,

Andrea.

[RonBee]

I (and most NES) would throw something on the floor. I am not sure of the distinction except perhaps that you can't miss the floor.

:wink:

Welcome to our friendly forum.

[apparrode]

I (and most NES) would throw something on the floor. I am not sure of the distinction except perhaps that you can't miss the floor.

:wink:

Welcome to our friendly forum.

- Thank your for your help !

And is it correct to say "throw sth AT the wall" ? (Would you use throw sth ON in any other besides "floor"?).

[RonBee]

I (and most NES) would throw something on the floor. I am not sure of the distinction except perhaps that you can't miss the floor.

:wink:

Welcome to our friendly forum.

- Thank your for your help !

And is it correct to say "throw sth AT the wall" ? (Would you use throw sth ON in any other besides "floor"?).

First, I should have said I am not sure of the reason for the distinction.

To answer your first question, you can certainly throw something at a wall. As for on, you can throw things on a bed, and you can throw things on a chair. The difference seems to be that you throw at things that are vertical, and you throw things on things that are horizontal.

[whl626]

How about to throw thing ' at ' the spot on the floor ?

[RonBee]

How about to throw thing ' at ' the spot on the floor ?

Yes, you can throw something at a spot on the floor. You can also throw something at the dog, which just happens to be on the floor.

:wink:

[whl626]

Please don't do that it is kind of cruel :) I normally use water pump to shoot at it :)

[RonBee]

:wink:

[Casiopea]

How about to throw thing ' at ' the spot on the floor ?

It's probable that 'on' refers to a surface, as in "on top of":

On the table
On the wall
On the ceiling
On the floor

whereas 'at' refers to a point in space and time:

1. Throw it at the target on the wall.
2. Look at the stars in the sky.
3. The bus leaves at 5:00 on the dot.

Cas :)

[RonBee]

How about to throw thing ' at ' the spot on the floor ?

It's probable that 'on' refers to a surface, as in "on top of":

On the table
On the wall
On the ceiling
On the floor

whereas 'at' refers to a point in space and time:

1. Throw it at the target on the wall.
2. Look at the stars in the sky.
3. The bus leaves at 5:00 on the dot.

Cas :)

I might throw something on the table or on the floor, but I would throw something at the wall or at the ceiling.

(There sure is a lot of throwing going on around here lately.)

:wink: