Konsultacje cukierkowe

[jokker39]

Czy mógłbym? :)

[twardycukierek]

Proszę :) Jak nie zdążę teraz to potem wrócę.

[twardycukierek]

17.30 mam ostatnie spotkanie, to już chyba 'po' zerknę :))

[jokker39]

:D
To nic nagłego.
Jaką widzisz różnicę w wyrażeniach "on the top", "at the top" i "on top"?

[twardycukierek]

OK, to na szybko, bo spadam na imprezę, potem możemy rozwinąć temat ;)

> Jaką widzisz różnicę w wyrażeniach "on the top", "at the top" i "on top"?

Nie widzę różnicy :D

No, żartuję trochę. Znaczeniowo różnią się głównie za sprawą kontekstu.

"on the top" określa stricte konkretne miejsce np on the top of the cupboard albo on the top floor. Są możliwe inne półki czy piętra, ale to jest akurat on the top. Nie jest to top absolutny ;)

"on top" to bardziej ogólne określenie gdzie coś jest. On top of his head. Cream on top. On top so it is NOT on the bottom. Tu też nie mamy do czynienia z topem absolutnym.

"at the top" inny kontekst, znaczenie. Na topie możliwości, powiedzmy. U szczytu góry albo możliwości. Limit jest osiągnięty. At the top of his ability. Scream at the top of ones lungs. Absolutny top, nic wyższego nie jest w tym momencie do osiągnięcia :)

[jokker39]

Mhm.
Ale:
a) She waited for me at the top of the stairs.
b) There were flags on the tops of many of the buildings.
c) There was a pile of books on top of (= on) the table.

"on top" - w przeciwieństwie do: "in", "inside" czy "underneath"
np. Put it on top of the car, not in it.

"At the top" to też konkretne miejsce.
Właśnie tu mam problem.

[twardycukierek]

:))
> a) She waited for me at the top of the stairs.

Since there was no more stairs , that was the limit.

> b) There were flags on the tops of many of the buildings.

Hmmm, tricky. I would have said so, definitely...

> c) There was a pile of books on top of (= on) the table.

On the table. And not anywhere else. So on top. Like in my example: sugar on top and NOT on the bottom. Same thing with the car: it is a placement, the position of the object and not an idea like 'I wanna make it to the top'.

Still, I agree this is tricky. Pehaps you should tell me in what context you need this and what is the problem to be solved. OK? :))

PS

[twardycukierek]

Before I go, just one more thing: in the first sentence, if we say 'she was
waiting for me on top of the stairs' it would mean she was placed on top,
say like a doll. That is what I believe anyway.
Pity, I know how to use it but not so much, why ;)))

[jokker39]

twardycukierek napisała:


>
> > c) There was a pile of books on top of (= on) the table.
>
> On the table. And not anywhere else. So on top. Like in my example: suga
> r on top and NOT on the bottom. Same thing with the car: it is a placement, the
> position of the object and not an idea like 'I wanna make it to the top'.

Are you sure? "On top of" is not the same as "on the top of". "On the top of" is
like "on the table" as much as "at the top" is like "at the airport". But it is
tricky.

I am trying to work out a rule. I've got the feeling that I am close, but stil
far away ;)

> Still, I agree this is tricky. Pehaps you should tell me in what context you ne
> ed this and what is the problem to be solved. OK? :))
>
>
>

[twardycukierek]

Well, when it comes to 'at the top' I think we have some clarity.

The tricky part is to separate the remaining two. Let me tell you this: suppose
I order a capuccino in NY. I ask them 'no cream on top', right? Then they put
the cream anyway! What do I say? 'There is cream on the top of my capuccino! I
asked you not to put any'
Because this has just happened. IT is not an abstract thing anymore, it is right
here.

We can pull this through but you must know: I am horrible with rules. I am,
hovewer, a killer when it comes to exceptions! ;DDD

[funny_game]

jokker39 napisał:

> Czy mógłbym? :)

Nie. I przeproś!!!

[jokker39]

ok :)

[funny_game]

To już. Czekam :D

[jokker39]

You, Cukierek? :)

[funny_game]

Nie-e i nie obrażaj Cukierka!

[twardycukierek]

Ech, Wy szpileczki moje ;))))