Many English learners often wonder why sentences like ‘What time does your school start?’ are correct, but phrases such as ‘What time does your school start at?’ sound awkward. This article will explain the grammatical reasons behind this and why the use of ‘at’ is unnecessary in this sentence.
Understanding the Question Structure
In English, when asking about time, we use the structure: ‘What time does [subject] [verb]?’ This structure already implies the action is happening at a specific time, so the addition of ‘at’ is redundant. The phrase ‘What time does your school start?’ correctly follows this structure, without needing an extra preposition.
Why ‘at’ is Unnecessary
Adding ‘at’ would be unnecessary because ‘start’ is a verb that already indicates an action taking place at a specific point in time. In English, we usually don’t pair verbs of movement or action like ‘start’ with prepositions like ‘at’ in such questions. For example, we don’t say, ‘What time does the meeting begin at?’ but instead simply, ‘What time does the meeting begin?’
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many learners might instinctively add ‘at’ after verbs like ‘start’ or ‘begin,’ but this is a common mistake. To avoid this, always remember that time-related questions usually only need the verb and noun, without any additional prepositions. Practicing questions like ‘What time does the event start?’ will help solidify this rule.
Summary
In conclusion, when asking about the time an event happens, the question ‘What time does your school start?’ is grammatically correct without ‘at.’ Understanding when not to use prepositions like ‘at’ can significantly improve your fluency and grammatical accuracy in English.
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