I used to stay out evenings. vs I used to stay out all evening.

[Hanifasmm]

Hi everybody,
1. I used to stay out evenings.
1a. 2. I used to stay out all evening.
2. The library is closed Saturdays.
2a. The library is closed all Saturday.
Do sentence - 1 and 1a mean the same?
Similarly do sentence - 2 and 2a mean the same?
If not, how could it be corrected to have the same meaning?
Should I put 'all evenings' for 'all evening' and
'all Saturdays' for 'Saturdays' to get the same meaning?
Please guide me.
Thanks a lot,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Expatcat]

Sentences 1 and 1a: The differences are subtle.

Sentence 1 implies you stayed out all of the evenings in a week.

Sentence 1a implies that when you went out on any particular evening, you stayed out the entire evening. If you want them to mean the same thing, there are several ways you could change either or both sentences. One way would be like this; 1) I used to stay out evenings (remains the same). 1a) I used to stay out every evening.

Sentence 2 and 2a effectively mean the same thing. In sentence 2, the emphasis is on the day of the week that the library is closed. In sentence 2a, the emphasis is on the fact that the library is not open at any time on a Saturday.

Think of the sentences as answers to questions, like this:

Q: Were you at home each evening?
A: [No] I used to stay out evenings.

Q: When you used to go out in the evenings, did you come home early?
A: [No] I used to stay out all evening.

Q: Can we go to the library on Saturday?
A: [No] The library is closed Saturday. (sentence 2)

Q: Is the library open Saturday morning?
A: [No] The library is closed all Saturday. (sentence 2a)

[Hanifasmm]

Hi everybody,
Mr. Expatcat,
2. The library is closed Saturdays.
2a. The library is closed (every Saturday)/on Saturdays.
Do the sentence 2 & 2a mean the same?
If not, please correct it.
Thanks in advance.
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Expatcat]

Yes, the meanings are the same.

Oh, and by the way, I am Ms. Expatcat. :)