English is an amusing language filled with intricacies. One of the interesting part is, we all get confused when it comes to using the right grammar. Irrespective of whether you are writing or speaking in English, you might make a mistake when using similar words, such as under and over. These can be used differently in different situations and confuse most of us. Generally, over and under are used to specify a place by its direction and position.

Differentiate between the use of 'over' & 'under'



Example:

1) Put this coat over your shirt you will feel warm.
2) The bag is under the table.

Understand them in detail with the following explanations. Let’s start with ‘over’ and its usage.

Over:

The word over can be used as in a number of ways as a preposition, adjective or adverb. Let's take a look at some of its more basic uses

over for a 'higher position'

Above or higher than something else, sometimes when one thing covers the other:

Example:

1) The ball went over him when he bent down.
2) There are flies over his head.



Over can also be used when the movement is across a surface.

1) The bike travelled over the road to the city.
2) The speed boat came over the sea to the shores.

It is also used for numerical terms. When the numbers are more than certain, basically limitless, then over is used.

1) China’s population is over 1 billion.
2) There are over millions of talents across the globe.

Over can also be used as a prefix. For instance,

1) The movie tickets in the city side theatre are overpriced.

Under:

Under is inverse of over which means it is used to state an object which is placed below or lower to something.

Example:

1) The ball went under the table.
2) We have to follow our boss, we are under his orders.



Under is also used when we mean that the thing is probably covering or is in touch with something.

"He was under the impression that she was a good singer".

One  definite use of under is when we indicate a certain age.

1) India is hosting an under-20 world cup.
2) The child has to be under 10 to get into that slide.

It is also used while measuring time and weight.

"The man weighs under 90 kilos".

Hence, the only difference between them is that, when something exists at an exact higher level of the subject, we use ‘over’ and for something which exists exactly below the subject, we use ‘under’.

We hope the examples will help you understand how under and over are used. With the proper use, you can explain things in a better way and also improve your English. It will also enhance  your spoken English skills. Joining an online English course will be beneficial towards becoming a master in English speaking.

About Eagetutor:

eAgeTutor.com is the premier online tutoring provider. eAge's world-class faculty and ace communication experts from around the globe help you to improve English in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. Overcoming limitations is just a click of mouse away in this age of effective and advance communication technology. For further information on online English speaking course or to experience the wonders of virtual classroom fix a demonstration session with our tutor. Please visit www.eagetutor.com.

-By Shailja Varma


Related topics:

1) How to talk on phone with a foreign client?
2) How to give a performance appraisal feedback?
3) Online communication/chatting etiquettes
4) Conversation tips for support executive.
5) How Should I Improve My Vocabulary for IELTS?