I’ve gotten a lot of questions about over in English. It has so many uses, but they are all so different. It can change part of speech, and with each change it has an unpredictably different meaning. What are those uses exactly?
“Over” can be a predicate adjective meaning ended, finished, done.
We are over.
= Our relationship is done. I am breaking up with you.
The show is over, so go home!
= The performance is finished. Leave.
In this meaning, it must be a predicate adjective, meaning it must come after the word “be,” and it can never come before a noun like most adjectives. You can’t talk about your over homework when you want to say your completed homework.
“Over” can also be a preposition that means above in location, value, or status.
Look out your window! Our plane is flying over some farms right now.
= Our plane is above some farms.
I paid over $1,000,000 for this house.
= I paid a number more than 1 million to buy this house.
Because of his power over you, your boss can make you do things you don’t want to do.
= Your boss is a higher rank than you, so he can make you do things against your will.
The difference between “above” and “over” is very small. They are mostly interchangeable in this meaning. Personally, I prefer “over” when something is about movement or change of location, but this is not a hard rule.
“Over” can also add a nuance about distance if used with location words.
Normally, you can say “here,” “there,” or “on the table,” but you will notice a lot of native speakers will add this word to emphasize that there is some distance between the listener and the location.
If you need me, I’ll be right over here.
= I am going away now, but if you want my attention my location will be this location, WHICH HAS SOME DISTANCE FROM YOUR CURRENT LOCATION.
I live over in the north part of the city, and we love it there.
= I like where I live, in the north, which is far from this current location we are talking at.
My aunt works over at the library.
= She works at that library, which is located away from here.
As a learner of English, you might wonder why we need to specify this information. As a native of English, I can tell you it’s entirely optional. The fact that this meaning exists just shows that distance is an important detail for a lot of native speakers. We want to always be clear about whether there is distance between the subject and the location. Think of it like some extra information for extra context. It is entirely optional, so don’t stress if you don’t think of this piece of information.
To summarize:
Over in English can be:
- an adjective meaning done, complete, finished, which you can only use with “be”
- a preposition meaning “above” in terms of location, money, or rank
- an adverb that adds a nuance about distance from the listener’s location
Now that this blog post is over, go over to my YouTube channel where I have over dozens of videos about language tips. If you liked this explanation, try other English explanations on my website to improve your English usage. Good luck with the word over in English!
