going upstairs - it means usage of the staircase?

[mrwroc]

I need to ask one more question about up/down and upstairs/downstairs because I have doubts now. The example conversation below:

My flatmate call me.
- My flatmate: Where are you?

1. If I say "I am going upstairs.", it means I am in the building and going up the stairs.
1. If I say "I am going up.", it can mean I am in the building and going up the stairs or taking the elevator.


??

 

[GoesStation]

Say "I'm on the stairs, going up" or "I'm going up the stairs." "I'm going upstairs" answers the question "Where are you going?".

 

[mrwroc]

So, if someone ask "Where are you going?" and I answer "I'm going upstairs" ---> it means I use stairs? Or, it can also refer to taking the elevator?

 

[GoesStation]

So, if someone asks "Where are you going?" and I answer "I'm going upstairs," (Use words, not symbols) does it [STRIKE]means[/STRIKE] mean I'm using the [STRIKE]use[/STRIKE] stairs? [STRIKE]Or, it[/STRIKE] Can it also refer to taking the elevator?

"Upstairs" is a floor that's above the one you're on. You can use the word regardless of how you plan to get there.

 

[mrwroc]

OK.

If I live on the first floor and my friend is on the ground floor I can say:
You need to go upstairs. You can take the stairs or the elevator.
AND ALSO
You need to go up to the first floor. You can take the stairs or the elevator.


If I live on the second floor and my friend is on the ground floor I can say:
ONLY
You need to go up to the second floor. You can take the stairs or the elevator.

Is that correct? :lol:

 

[GoesStation]

View attachment 3829
OK.

If I live on the first floor and my friend is on the ground floor I can say:
You need to go upstairs. You can take the stairs or the elevator.
AND ALSO
You need to go up to the first floor. You can take the stairs or the elevator.


If I live on the second floor and my friend is on the ground floor I can say:
ONLY
You need to go up to the second floor. You can take the stairs or the elevator.

Is that correct? :lol:

Yes. Well done.

Note that English has two conventions for naming floors. In the United States and many other countries the ground floor is also called the first floor. The UK and many other countries use the convention you used. When writing for an international audience, you should specify which convention you're using.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I need to ask one more question about up/down and upstairs/downstairs because I have doubts now. The example conversation below:

1. If I say "I am going upstairs.", it means I am in the building and going up the stairs.

No. It means you're going to a floor above the one you're on now. You're going to a floor upstairs.

1. If I say "I am going up.", it can mean I am in the building and going up the stairs or taking the elevator.

No. "I am going up" is not natural. We would not understand. You need to say "I am going upstairs."

Upstairs (one word) does not mean up stairs (two words).

 

[Tarheel]

Some people say ground floor instead of first floor. That makes what the rest of us call the second floor the first floor.