Over', 'above', 'on top of

Over can have the sense of 'covering' (and

sometimes 'touching'), and its opposite is

under (= covered by)

Above stresses the idea of 'at a higher level'

(i e not touching)

Keep the blankets over you

I can t sleep with a light on above my head On top of generally suggests 'touching

Don t put anything on top of the TV please For across and over [> App 25.3] Above and over can often be used interchangeably with verbs of movement

I'd like to fly above/over the Amazon Over and above can be'used interchangeably in the sense of 'vertically at a higher level'

The helicopter was over/above the lifeboat

My bedroom is over/above the kitchen However, they are not interchangeable when all we are concerned with is 'a higher level' (not vertically at a higher level) If for example we were referring to two cats on a tree we would say that A was above B, not over it In general terms over and under indicate vertical relationships, while above and below refer simply to levels

Appendix 25

Over and above have different figurative uses Over means 'in charge of

We don't want anyone like that over us Above can mean 'a higher rank'

Major is above the rank of Captain Over (and less commonly above) can mean 'more than

He isn't over (above/more than) ten Above (not over) is used to measure on a scale

His work is above average Both over and above combine with see see over{= look at the next page), see above (= look further up the same page/refer to the previous page)

Over can combine with turn, in turn over (a page) and its opposite is turn back

25.33 't o' [> 8.9]

When to is associated with the infinitive it is not a preposition / want to go She began to cry, etc However, after verbs such as object or adjectives such as accustomed, to is a preposition This means it can be followed by a noun or a gerund [> 16.56]

I'm accustomed to hard work I' m accustomed to working hard

25.34 'towards'

To in / go from X to V covers the whole movement, starting at X and arriving at Y Towards indicates general direction and does not cover the whole movement It can convey the following

- direction/movement Walk slowly towards me
~ 'in the direction of The church looks

towards the river

- near I feel tired towards the

end of the day

- 'in relation to' His attitude towards

- 'for the purpose of Pay towards a pension Toward is more common in AmE than towards

25.35 'under', underneath', beneath', 'below'
Under means 'covered by (and sometimes
'touching') and 'at a lower place than (not
'touching')

There's nothing new under the sun It can also be used with verbs of movement

We walked under the bridge Under can have the meaning of 'less than'

/ think she s under seventeen Below is also possible in certain contexts

Millie can't be below 40 Underneath means 'completely covered by' (touching or not touching)

Put a mat underneath that hot dish Beneath is less common and more literary but it can replace under and underneath

Our possessions lie beneath the rubble Below is the opposite of above It is interchangeable with under and underneath when it means 'at a lower level

He swam just below the surface

We camped below/under/underneath the

Summit

But it is not generally interchangeable when referring to place or position

The stone hit me just below the knee.

Under can be used to mean 'commanded by Our foreman has ten people under him

Below can be used figuratively to refer to rank What's the rank below Captain''

25.36 'with' and 'without' [> 1.60, 16.51]
With and without can be used to mean
'accompanied by' or 'not accompanied by

/ went to the zoo with my sister

What was your life like without any sisters⁷

I can't manage without you Wit h can be a replacement for 'having' in e g

He stood with his hands in his pockets

With his background, he should go far Without can suggest and not do something'

We must get inside without waking her With can suggest 'taking into consideration'

With the cost of living so high, we are

cutting down on luxuries

With so many accidents on the road, the

use of seat-belts was made compulsory With (but not without) follows common adjectives to express feelings angry, annoyed, furious, etc (with someone, but at something) And note blue with cold, green with envy elc With also follows verbs e g cope, fight, quarrel

25.37 'with', 'without', 'in', 'of
With and without can be used to mean
'carrying or 'not carrying, [> 10.31.4]

Who's the woman with the green umbrella? I'm without any money

or it can mean '(un)accompanied by'

The camera comes with/without a case With and without can be used to mean 'having or 'not having physical characteristics

He's a man with a big nose and red hair This can be extended to external characteristics such as hairstyles and make-up, in e g the woman with pink lipstick In can be used to mean 'wearing

Who's (he woman in the green blouse? and can refer to voice-quality

He spoke in a low/loud voice/in a whisper Of can be used to describe

- personal qualities He's a man of courage

- age He's a man of about 40

- wealth He's a man of means