"it all by myself"

[sky3120]

Hello, I know that I have to consider "context" to understand sentences exactly and I have brought a sentence which I want to think about with you.

"I cooked it all by myself"


I think that I can understand it in two ways, considering different situations.

1. it=all, so I cooked every meal alone.

2. all=completely, so I cooked meals or a meal just alone , trying to emphasize "not be helped by anyone".


Am I right? Or could you tell me your opinions about it. Thanks in advance all the time.

 

[JMurray]

Hello, I know that I have to consider "context" to understand sentences exactly and I have brought a sentence which I want to think about with you.

"I cooked it all by myself"
I think that I can understand it in two ways, considering different situations.
1. it=all, so I cooked every meal alone.
2. all=completely, so I cooked meals or a meal just alone , trying to emphasize "not be helped by anyone".

The sentence, as you have written it, means: "I cooked it with no help from anybody else". The "all" acts to emphasize "by myself". Compare with: "I live in this house all by myself". "I learned about art history all by myself".

To convey the other meaning I think you are suggesting, you require an apostrophe. "I cooked it all, by myself".
This means: "I cooked all of the food and I did it alone".

not a teacher