Questions about example sentences with, and the definition and usage of "At"

A: "A drag" is a puff from a cigarette. "Give me a drag" means "let me have a puff of your cigarette".

A: Since they use the item so often, they should get a discount

A: is just giving a contrasting/different point opposite to what has been said.
like saying "on the other hand", usually used to compare.

A: Usually this idiom means that something is readily available to or accessible by you. For example, Yagami Light has people's lives at his fingertips because he possesses a note that can kill anybody. Or, we all have information at our fingertips since we all have smartphones now.

A:
1. I'm disappointed with you.
2. I'm disappointed in how you handled the situation.
3. I'm disappointed at how they handled that angry customer.
4. I was disappointed by how late my mother was to her own wedding.

A: with:
I am disapointed with the game last night.
I was disapointed with my brother.
In:
I am disapointed in you.
I am disapointed in them.
At:
I am disapointed at the thought of that.
I am disapointed at the idea of this.
By:
I was disapointed by the outcome.
I was disapointed by my progress.

A: I am at the bank.
He is at the dentist.
They are at the beach.

A: I will be at my friend's house if you need to find me

A: She is AT the store.
I drove IN the parking lot.
We sat ON the chairs.

A: There is no difference in meaning. “Mad AT someone” is more commonly used, because “with” implies both parties are mad and “at” implies only one party is mad.

A: in this case there really is no difference. I *think* it’s a dialectic difference based on which part of the US you live in. I could say the reverse like “she banged away on the piano” or “she is banging away at the piano” and it would pretty much mean the same, too

A: You are good AT skills and the things that use the skills. You are good WITH objects or other nouns.

Examples:
I'm good at baseball.
I'm good at swimming.
I'm good at sewing.
I'm good at playing cards.

I'm good with my hands.
I'm good with numbers.
I'm good with words.
I'm good with a scalpel.

A: The correct phrase is not at all. No at all doesn't exist as far as I know. Can you show me where you have seen no at all?

A: Would you like to be seated in the restaurant, or on the patio outside?

In is used to specify that you're referring to the inside of the the building. It's a subtle distinction, because, even if you're not seated inside, and you're eating on the patio instead, you're still AT the restaurant haha.

It's tricky.


Feel free to ask more questions.

A: I looked at him
The dog ran at the boy
Turn left at the street ahead

A: “Much” should be replaced with “many.” And “could” is the right word to fit in that sentence since the beginning of the sentence implies that it’s in the past tense. 🙂

A: To be at odds with someone means to disagree with them

A: At this time of the year

A: I've heard both and both sound natural to me, "at" is probably preferable but I hear "in" as well.

A: Either are understandable but ‘at’ is more commonly used I think

A: Usually we don't say either of these. The usual phrase: "...is in 5th grade". The studying part is implied. One unusual case when we would say "at", is when describing a person who is advanced or behind their expected level of education. If someone is 13 years old or 8 years old, you might say "He reads/writes at 5th grade level" to describe how the student is out of the ordinary.

A: There are exceptions, but I think you will be safe if you do this:

at + ing-verbs
with + nouns

I'm not good at running.
I'm not good at swimming.
I'm not good at acting.

I'm not good with people.
I'm not good with words.

I'm not good with games.
I'm not good at playing games.

A: Usually,

"Good at" is used for activities. "Good with" is used for situations, people, and things that aid with activities.

"I'm good with numbers. I'm an accountant."
"I'm good with kids. I'm a nanny."
"I'm good with the ladies. I get lots of dates."
"I'm good with my hands. I'm a carpenter."
"I'm good with customers. I can help calm them down when they're angry."
"I'm good with helping lost tourists. I show them the way."

"I'm good at math. I'm a teacher."
"I'm good at babysitting. I love kids."
"I'm good at animation. I work for Disney."
"I'm good at calming customers down."