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Thread: terrible with/at?

  1. #1
    Tedwonny is offline Member
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    Question terrible with/at?

    I've heard some teachers say she's terrible with names but some say terrible at...

    which's correct?
    thanks

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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: terrible with/at?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tedwonny View Post
    I've heard some teachers say "she's terrible with names" but some say "terrible at..."

    which's is correct? We don't contract 'is' after 'which'.
    Both are acceptable.
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    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


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    Default Re: terrible with/at?

    5jj is right, but you can't generalise that beyond names.

    I'm terrible at chess/dancing... (Not 'with')
    I'm terrible with women/animals... (Not 'at')
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    Tedwonny is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Question Re: terrible with/at?

    thanks

    So, it's more like
    at + things/activities you're bad at, say I'm terrible at Maths/sports....

    with + things/activities is not so direct, say, I'm terrible with names = I'm terrible at memorizing/recalling the names of my students.

    Is that right?
    thanks

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    Raymott's Avatar
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    Default Re: terrible with/at?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tedwonny View Post
    thanks

    So, it's more like
    at + things/activities you're bad at, say I'm terrible at Maths/sports....

    with + things/activities is not so direct, say, I'm terrible with names = I'm terrible at memorizing/recalling the names of my students.

    Is that right?
    thanks
    Yes.

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