"what time" or "at what time"?

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massimoparente

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Hello,

which of the two following question is the correct one?

What time are you leaving?
At what time are you leaving?

I don't understand the difference between "what" and "at what".

Can you help me?


Thanks,
Massimo
 
They're the same. The difference, at is omitted in [1]:

[1] What time are you leaving (at)?
[2] At what time are you leaving?
​
There's a Latin rule borrowed into English that states, one should never end a sentence with a preposition. The result, some speakers move the preposition to the front of the clause ([2]), other speakers omit (1), and yet other speakers just leave it where it is. The result, three ways to say the same thing:

Statement: I am leaving at 4 p.m.

Questions:
What time are you leaving at?
At what time are you leaving?
What time are you leaving?
​
Does that help?
 
Is it correct for any sentences or is it just a collocation?

What are you looking for?
Can I omit for here? But it is a phrasal verb.

Michael
 
Phrasal verbs are different.

Ex: What are you looking for? :tick:
Ex: For what are you looking? :cross:
Ex: What are you looking? :cross:
 
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