Page 219 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

a c r o s s , a i o n g , o v e r a n a i n r o u g n ; a o o v e , o v e r ,
b e l o w a n d u n d e r

l
,
,
Across over aonghrough
,
t
We can use across or over to talk about a position on the other side of, or getting to the other
side of a bridge, road, border, river, etc.:
• The truck came towards them across/over the bridge.
• Mike lives in the house across/over the road from ours.
• Once she was across/over the border, she knew she would be safe.
We use over rather than across when we talk about reaching the other side of something that is
high, or higher than it is wide:
• He hurt his leg as he jumped over the wall.
• The railway goes through a tunnel rather than over the top of the mountain.
When we are talking about something we think of as a flat surface, or an area such as a country
or sea, we use across rather than over:
• He suddenly saw Sue across the room.
• The programme was broadcast across Australia.
• The figures moved rapidly across the screen.
Notice that we can say all over but not usually all across. Instead, we prefer right across:
• The disease has now spread all over the world, (or ...right across the world.)
When we talk about following a line of some kind (a path, a road, a river, a beach, a canal, etc.),
we use along.
• I'd seen them walking along the road past my window several times before.
• They walked along the footpath until they came to a small bridge.
We use through to emphasise that we are talking about movement in a three dimensional space,
with things all around, rather than a two dimensional space, a flat surface or area:
• He pushed his way through the crowd of people to get to her.
• He enjoyed the peace and quiet as he walked through the forest.
Through often suggests movement from one side or end of the space to the other. Compare:
• She walked through the forest to get to her grandmother's house, and
• She spent a lot of her free time walking in the forest.

Above, over; below, under
We can use either above or over when we say that one thing is at a higher level than another:
B
• Above/Over the door was a sign saying, 'Mind your head'.
• She had painted thick, dark eyebrows above/over each eye.
However, we use above, not over, when one thing is not directly over the other. Compare:
• The castle sat in the mountains above the town, and
• The passengers couldn't see the sun, as it was right over the plane. (= directly overhead)
We use over, not above, when we say that something covers something else and is in contact
with it, and also when we are talking about horizontal movement:
I • • A grey mist hung over the fields. fishing boat.
fly out over the water, near the
I saw the helicopter
Below is the opposite of above; under is the opposite of over. The differences in the uses of
below and under are similar to those between above and over (see above):
• It's hard to believe that there is a railway line below/under the building.
• Her head was below the level of the counter and the shop assistant didn't notice her.
• I was so hot, I stood under a cold shower for ten minutes.
• She hid the presents under a blanket, (the presents and the blanket are in contact)