Above vs Over – Difference and Comparison

What is Above?

Above is a term that can be used variably as both a preposition and an adverb. To know the position of any place of an object this is used when there is no contact between any two objects.

Some points to understand it in a better way:

1. An object which is upward or overhead: For example- there is a plate above the table.
2. More than a particular level: For example – the temperature is above 30 degrees.
3. About: For example – the teacher always favors the toppers.
4. In mentioning: Example -Referred to the video above.
5. Higher in rank or position. For example- we got instruction from higher authorities.

Above is used when one thing is not directly over another and sometimes we used above in some expression, particularly when we are thinking of vertical skills. Example-

1. Above sea level.
2. Above average.
3. Above zero (temperatures).

What is Over?

Over is a term that can be used when there is contact between any two objects. It implies the moment of an object from one place to another. It can be used as a prefix in a sentence.

Over- we use over when one thing cover another and we also use over to means” more than”.

Example-

1. ‘How old is she?’ ‘Over twenty’
2. She is over two meters tall.

 Some points in which we can understand more elaborately are-

1. The moment of an object at a higher position: For example – I held an umbrella above my head.
2. To cover something. For example- he put the blanket over her.
3. On the other side. Example-Can you see the Scotty over there.
4. Downward movement: Example- The apple fell over the head of the boy.
5. End or complete: Example – My semester exam will be over by the end of this week.

It is used when the upper object is large enough to cover the lower object. It should have sides falling on the lower object. ‘Over’ shows movement. When one object shows a movement across the object.

Some examples-

1. we should not ask for anything more than a roof over our head.
2. Spread the bed sheet over the head.
3. The plane flew over the city.
4. While for distance or number we used ‘over’

Difference Between Above and Over

1. We use ‘above’ when there is no contact between any object, there is some sort of space but in ‘over’ case we use it irrespective to the space of the object provided  by the upper object to cover  the lower object.
2. When it comes to the number we don’t uses ‘above’, however in levels we used it but in the case of ‘over,’ we used it.
3. Above just represents the location of a person or an object but ‘over’ helps to express the location properly.
4.  For ‘above’ space is needed but for ‘over’ there may or may not be the presence of space.
5. Above is used when there is an object between the objects, for over there should not be the moment in both objects.
6. Over can be used as a prefix in a sentence while above cannot be used in sentence.

Comparison Between Above and Over

Reference

1. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/above
2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over