to knock at and to knock on

[Kate_Zam]

Hi)
Could somebody explain me the difference between to knock at and to knock on?

Ex, He knocked at the door.
He knocked on the door.

Is it right to say? I knocked at her head, oh, yeah... as I thought she was stupid!

Thanks in advance.

[Alan]

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Hi Kate,

'Knock at the door' would be used to describe what you do when you want someone to come to the door as in: We walked up the drive and knocked at the door but there was nobody at home. ''Knock on the door' is what you actually do when you make the sound of your fingers/hand/fist on the door.

In your example it would be 'knock on the head.'

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Kate_Zam]

Thank you,Alan

[Kate_Zam]

I found also - On is something the knocker does. At is something someone inside hears.
Is it right?

[Alan]

Yes, good example.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[MyEfforts]

Hi Kate,

By looking at your question It just struck to my mind and I want to say something
in addition to your conversation:-

There is an another meaning of what you asked. It also a common phrase:-

[Foah]

Hi,

is this the evidence?

Knocking on heavens door by Bob Dylan

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,

Mama take this badge off of me,
I can't use it any more,
It's getting dark, too dark to see,
Feel i'm knocking on heavens door.

Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,
Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door.
Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,
Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,

Mama put my guns in the ground,
I can't shoot them any more,
That long black cloud is coming down,
Feels like i'm knocking on heavens door.

Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,
Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,
Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,
yeah yeah,
Knock, Knock knocking on heavens door,

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Bob seems no yet having entered the Heaven.

Michael
_________________
"Ho ho!" said the clown