Verbs in english
What's the difference between finish and finish off, start and start off. I don't seize the difference between verbs with preposition and verbs without prepositions mailny when we have the same sense.
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Verbs in English
What's the difference between "finish" and "finish off";, "start" and "start off". I don't seize see the difference between verbs with preposition and verbs without prepositions mailny mainly when they seem to mean the same. we have the same sense.
"Finish off" means to COMPLETELY finish whatever it is to be done.
"Finish off your dinner otherwise you don't get your dessert."
"Finish your dinner otherwise you don't get your dessert."
This first sentence means that everything on your plate must disappear into your stomach before you can have dessert. However, in the 2nd sentence, you don't have to because you may be given too much food in the first place. So if you are full, then your dinner is done and can have dessert. Compare this to "finish up". When you have problems like this, google them like, "difference between XXX and YYY". You will normally get the answers.
"Start off" implies that there are many stages after the beginning. Hope these two sentences will help you understand the subtleties.
"Little boys start off being innocent until they learn the wicked ways of the world."
"The teacher started off his brief introduction to the students before telling them that next week is their first exam."
Go find out the differences for "Start out" & "start up" and also with "startup".
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I think the answers you have here are good. I just would like to give another examples that may help you to understand. I'm not sure that I can explain it well, so hopefully the examples can speak for themselves.
Go in = enter
Go out = exit
Go up - ascend
The best thing I can tell you is to look up verb-framing and satellite-framing.
All Germanic languages are satellite-framed languages.
All Romance languages are verb-framed.
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Verbs in English
What's the difference between finish and finish off, start and start off. I don't understand the difference between verbs with preposition and verbs without prepositions, especially when they have the same meaning.
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Hello Sarah,
The main difference between finish and finish off, as well as start and start off, is that there is a difference of time.
To finish something could mean there is a lot still needed to do, for example, he started planning his first book yesterday, but he has a lot left to finish if he wants to get published.
To finish something off, implies that we have almost finished it. For example, I started my assignment yesterday, and I just need to finish off the conclusion before I give it to my teacher.
To start something could imply we have started it for the first time, for example, I started to understand what he was talking about.
To start off, could imply we already started something and we're going to restart it. For example, yesterday we got a bit lost while following the map, so we drove back to try and start off from where we began.
Also, start off and finish off can be used to give a sequence of events. For example... in the interview the Prime Minister started off by telling everyone how things are going to improve over time, then he mentioned how he is determined to help the poor, finally, he finished off by wishing everyone a happy Christmas.
I hope this helps,
Shaun.
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