Question

1. Mom jumps from the sound.
2. Mom jumps because of the sound.
3. Mom jumps _____ the sound.

[ Does #1 mean #2? What is the meaing of 'from' in Sentence 1? What else can we use instead of 'from' in #3?]

Answer 1

I'm not sure why "from" was chosen for that sentence. I'd say, "Mom jumps at the sound." It means the sound was sudden and loud, and her reaction was fast and rather jumpy.

Answer 2

[Thank you.]

Is she just nervous or worried about the sound? Or does she get up from the chair? In the sentence, does she move upwards? Or is she nervous or worried without standing up?

Answer 3

Imagine that you are sitting in your house and suddenly you hear a loud, sharp sound, such as a gunshot or loud fireworks that you were not expecting. It's a physical reaction. Your body would jump or flinch, and you might even yelp a bit (or a lot!).

It's not anything you'd be expecting. It is so sudden and loud that you react instinctively, not planned or worried about. Those things require thinking, but your description is of something completely unexpected.