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Use "At All" to Strengthen Your Questions and Negative Statements
![Use "At All" to Strengthen Your Questions and Negative Statements Use "At All" to Strengthen Your Questions and Negative Statements](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/10/20100357/at_all_cover-1024x655.jpg)
Have you ever heard someone end a statement with "at all" and wondered what it meant? It’s actually a quick and effective way to add emphasis to your statements and questions.
It's likely that you never learned it in school, but it is commonly used both in formal and informal English communication. That means it's important for you to know!
If you need an explanation, this article will teach you all you need to know to use it like a pro.
Negative statements
![A very foggy highway that is almost completely empty of cars](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/10/19093421/markus-spiske-_v6mhdOK2g0-unsplash-1024x683.jpg)
“At all” is used in two major ways, and both make what you say stronger. The first use we’ll look at is in negative statements. Look at this example:
This statement is clear and direct. But what about the one below?
In the first example, it’s possible the speaker drinks green tea occasionally, even if it’s not their favorite drink.
On the other hand, adding “at all” to the end gives the statement a much stronger feeling. In this second example, it sounds as if the speaker will never drink green tea if they have the choice.
The extra emphasis from "at all" stresses how little the speaker could see.
It’s important to remember that "at all" is only used in sentences with a negative form of a verb.
This means a statement such as “I hate horror movies at all” is incorrect; even though the feeling of the sentence is negative (hate), the verb is in the positive form. The proper way to express this idea is "I don't like horror movies at all."
However, although it is used in negative statements, the statement can still have a positive meaning. For example:
Here, the speaker is expressing how much they think Miles would be good for the job; they can recommend him with no hesitation. Here's another example:
Note that “at all” can sometimes be used in the middle of a statement instead of at the end.
The only place it cannot go is at the beginning of a sentence.
Questions
![A man looking through a box of books in an outdoor market](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/10/19093523/clem-onojeghuo-RLJnH4Mt9A0-unsplash-1024x694.jpg)
The other main way of using “at all” is in questions. Just like above, it adds emphasis. For example:
This is a basic question. The following example, however, sounds stronger.
This stronger question includes a nuance of surprise; the speaker is looking for confirmation that their friend really bought nothing.
Here is another pair of questions to compare:
Again, the second example is more intense. The nuance is that the speaker wants or needs information badly, even if it's only something small.
Responses
![A man and a woman sitting next to each other in a casual cafe](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/10/19093609/shutterstock_458501815-1024x683.jpg)
“At all” can also be used as a response to a question. This usage confirms something that was previously said.
You need to use it along with a negative word, which depends on what you are responding to.
![](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/22141547/avatar_6.png)
![](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/22141747/avatar_30.png)
![](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/22141719/avatar_26.png)
![](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/22141702/avatar_23.png)
![](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/22141826/avatar_33.png)
![](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/22141743/avatar_29.png)
Wrap-up
Of course, you don't need "at all" to form questions and negative statements. But if you want them to have a little more impact, it's exactly what you need. Just remember that it's always used with a negative word, even if what you're saying is positive.
Give it a try in your next English conversation!