Preview（腕試し）

Jake: This new e-mail program is difficult to use--I can't figure out how to add new addresses to the address book or how to send a message.

Kentaro: That's the same program I use. Do you want any help with it?

Jake: Thanks, but I don't want to take up a lot of your time.

Kentaro: Don't worry--it won't take any time at all.

Kentaro is saying that it will take ____________ time to help Jake with the new e-mail program.

A. very little

B. some

C. a lot of

Quick Glossary （用語辞典）

negative : 否定の

emphasize : 強調する

auxiliary verb : 助動詞

Examples（例文）

This idiom means "not even a little." We often use it in negative statements to emphasize that something (such as time, effort, or a feeling) is very small.

I lost my keys, but I didn't worry at all--I knew I would find them sooner or later. (I didn't feel even a little worried.)

Yumi was told that she would have to work overtime every day the following month, and she was not at all happy: she had already worked overtime for three weeks straight.

Grammar　(文法)

Because at all is normally used in negative statements, a nonnegative statement such as "I liked it at all" would sound very unnatural.

Note that at all can be used in sentences that have a negative structure but a positive meaning:

Raymond thought that his boss would be angry about his mistake, but she wasn't at all angry.

Exercises （練習）Verb/auxiliary verb work.

1. Keiko thought she wouldn't like the movie, but she was surprised--she __________ disappointed at all.

A. was

B. didn't

C. wasn't

---

2. Tomoko did very well on the test even though she ____________ study at all.

A. didn't

B. wasn't

C. not

---

3. I'm really tired of door-to-door salespeople. Whenever one stops by my apartment, I just say, "Thanks for stopping by, but I'm really ____________ interested in whatever you're selling. Have a nice day!"

A. not at all

B. don't at all

C. at all