Forgot\Left

[Tdol]

Your example with 'that' works, but the basic sentence 'I forgot it at home' is not regarded as good BE. I can't give you a rational explanation- it's just something that many say is wrong. I suppose the idea is that you are inplying that the forgetting took place in the home rather than the location of the object. Not that that makes much sense, IMO. I think it's just a BE quirk.

[RonBee]

Hm. Interesting discussion. I don't feel so bad about my "goof" now that Cas supports that version. I do think that ("I forgot it at home") is something a native speaker might say. However, more likely is I forgot to bring it.

• Teacher: Where is your homework?
  Student: I forgot to bring it.

Hm.

:)

[Tdol]

It's clearly not a goof, but yet another example of AE\BE differences. Also, many native speakers would say it here, but then the teacher might well correct them.

In normal standard Eglish 'left smt.',but 'forget to do smt.' OK.

[Tdol]

I fully agree.

[Firelord]

hey...what's BE? how about AE?

[Tdol]

BE may be a minority form, but it is what I speak.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by tdol

Your example with 'that' works, but the basic sentence 'I forgot it at home' is not regarded as good BE. I can't give you a rational explanation- it's just something that many say is wrong. I suppose the idea is that you are inplying that the forgetting took place in the home rather than the location of the object. Not that that makes much sense, IMO. I think it's just a BE quirk.

I don't think "I forgot that I left my homework at home" works any better than "I forgot my homework at home". It doesn't have the same meaning. Perhaps "I forgot to bring my homework from home" would be a substitution, but that is too much ellipsis. I also frown on "I forgot my homework at home." It sounds as if the forgetting occurred at home.

[Tdol]

In a sense, the forgetting did take place at home. But then again, it usually means 'I haven't done it yet'.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by tdol

In a sense, the forgetting did take place at home. But then again, it usually means 'I haven't done it yet'.

If one forgot that he left his homework at home, one wouldn't be able to speak that sentence. :wink: