which one is correct?

[sage]

Excuse me, this is the first time posting. and hope you could help me, thanks. :)

my question is : which one is correct?

1. I just have to stop off in the bathroom.
2. I just have to stop off at the bathroom.

[sage]

by the way, i'm confused :

if we answer the call of nature at the bathroom, we could use "at" ?

if we make up or do something else(such as take a bath...) in the bathroom, we could use "in"?

because i just think that take a bath will spend much time than just pee ...
so in+ long time ?
at+ short time?

i'm sorry, maybe you can't understand what i'm talking about, because i'm an english novice!

[Tdol]

I'd say youcould use either. There are areas where the distinction between 'in' and 'at' is not too clear. Of the two, I'd prefer 'in'becaue the bathroom is an enclosed specific location.

[sage]

thanks tdol !!

[Tdol]

Sage, you're welcome.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by sage

Excuse me, this is the first time posting. and hope you could help me, thanks. :)

my question is : which one is correct?

1. I just have to stop off in the bathroom.
2. I just have to stop off at the bathroom.

To "stop in" is to stop in(side), whereas to "stop at" is to stop at a location. The goal or end point are exactly the same; the difference has to do with the speaker's intention or view. When s/he says "stop in", s/he's expressing the inside of the location, and when s/he says, "stop at", s/he's expressing the building or room as a whole.

For example: The speaker is inside the bank as she says,

"I am at the bank (meaning, at the bank location)"
"I am in the bank (meaning, inside the bank location)"

If she is standing outside the bank, she could also use "at the bank", but not "in the bank". "at" refers to the structure; "in" refers to the 3 dimentional space within that structure (inside).

Other examples,

"I'll meet you in the park" / "I'll meet you at the park"
"I'll see you at the party", but never: "I'll see you in the party", because the noun 'party' is not a structure. It has no inside.

All the best,

[sage]

Casiopea, thank you so much for extremely explanation!!^^__^^

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by sage

Casiopea, thank you so much for extremely explanation!!^^__^^

You're welcome. Please note:

"Thank you for an extremely______ explanation!" You need to place an adjective in the space (______). For example, "good", "wonderful", "eye-opening", and so on.

All the best,

[sage]

thanks for an extremely good explanation! Casiopea ^^

[Sidra]

Assalam o alaikum....this is sidra from KSA...i want to learn english from this website but i m new user of ur site...so will u help wid me in this....

thanks and regards

Sidra