at all
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- In the slightest degree; to any extent: Used in questions and negative statements to emphasize a point, often meaning "even a little" or "in any way."
- Whatsoever; in any respect: Used for absolute negation or to make a question more general and open-ended.
Usage
- In negative statements: Used with "not" to mean "not even a little" or "not in any way," creating a strong, complete negation.
- In questions: Used to ask if something is true to any degree, often expressing surprise, doubt, or to make an offer more polite.
- For emphasis after "if": Used to strengthen a conditional clause.
Examples
- In negative statements:
- "She wasn't at all pleased with the result." (She was not pleased in any respect.)
- "There is no reason at all to be afraid." (There is no reason whatsoever.)
- In questions:
- "Did you understand it at all?" (Did you understand any part of it?)
- "Is this at all helpful?" (Is this helpful in any way?)
Advanced Usage
- "Not at all": A common, polite formula used as a response to "thank you" or an apology, equivalent to "You're welcome" or "It's nothing."
- "Thank you for your help." – "Not at all."
- For rhetorical emphasis: Used to make a negative statement more forceful.
- "That is not acceptable at all."
Variants and Related Words
- Whatsoever (adv): A more emphatic synonym often used after a noun phrase with "any," "no," or "nothing."
- "He has no interest whatsoever in sports."
- In the least (phrase): Very similar in meaning and usage to "at all."
- "I'm not in the least concerned."
Synonyms
- Whatsoever
- In any way
- In the slightest
- In the least
Related Phrases
- Not in the least: An idiomatic phrase identical in meaning to "not at all."
- "I was not in the least surprised." (I was not surprised at all.)
Adverb
- in the slightest degree or in any respect
- Are you at all interested? No, not at all
- was not in the least unfriendly