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I have broken the rock with hammer at my home before.
I have broken the rock at my home with hammer before.

Explain which of the sentence is correct at the situation when use with hammer.

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  • They are both correct, but need an article ("the hammer" or "a hammer") and some context to make any sense beyond that. In particular, "I've [done something] before" with no further clause is really only used in a specific kind of spoken phrase where you assert that you have the knowledge or experience to accomplish something.
    – ArrowCase
    Aug 8, 2017 at 19:54
  • If this is a lesson or exam question, can you tell us what the question asks you to do? If possible, can you add the entire question to your question by using the edit link?
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Aug 8, 2017 at 22:28

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Hammer needs an article: either definite (the) or indefinite (a).

The placement of at my home is important:

I have broken the rock at my home with a hammer before.

I have broken a rock with a hammer at my home before.

In the first sentence, you suggest that you've broken a certain rock (the one in your house) with a hammer before. In the second sentence, you suggest something totally different: that you've broken rocks with a hammer before, and those events took place at your house.

The use of certain articles is also important:

I have broken the rock with a hammer at my home before.

I have broken a rock with a hammer at my home before.

I have broken a rock with the hammer at my home before.

I have broken the rock with the hammer at my home before.

All the sentences have different meanings:

  • The first sentence talks about a certain rock, and that you've broken this certain rock with a hammer before at your home.
  • The second sentence, as previously stated, suggests that you've broken rocks with a hammer before, and it happened at your home each time.
  • The third sentence talks about a certain hammer (the hammer at my home), and that you've used this certain hammer to break rocks before at your home.
  • The fourth sentence can suggest two things:
    • you've broken a certain rock with a certain hammer; or
    • you've broken a special rock that has a design of a hammer on it.
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