Hi, everyone!
嗨，大家好。

I hope you like prepositions because I am going to talk about them again today.
希望你喜欢介词，因为今天我又要介绍介词啦。

The question today comes from our reader Francesca in Rome, Italy. Here it is:
今天的问题来自意大利罗马的读者Francesca，问题是这样的：

Question:
提问：

Hello, thank you VOA. I have a problem using over and above. You will certainly help me. - Francesca, Rome
你好，谢谢美国之音。我在over和above的使用上有问题，你肯定会帮我 — 来自罗马的Francesca。

Answer:
回答：

Ciao, Francesca. I am happy to help!
你好，（Ciao，意大利语），Francesca。我很乐于提供帮助。

The words over and above can act as prepositions or adverbs, depending on how they are used.
Over和above这两个单词都能当介词或副词，具体取决于它们的应用。

For today's program, I will focus on prepositions. Prepositions are words that show direction, position or time.
在今天的节目中，我会着重讲介词。介词是指表明方向、位置或时间的单词。

Over and above both express that something is in a higher position than something else. And, sometimes, you can use either word.
这两个单词都表示某个物体的位置比其它物体更高，有时候这两个单词随便用。

You can, for instance, say:
例如你可以说：

The building is over a parking lot (or)

The building is above a parking lot.

They have the same meaning.
上面两句的意思完全相同。

But there are times when one word is more suitable than the other.
但是有时候用其中一个比另一个更合适。

Motion, movement
运动，动作

For example, the word over suggests movement. Above does not.
例如，over这个单词表示动作，而above没有这层意思。

When the upper object moves across the lower object, use over, as in these examples:
当上方物体从下方物体上面移动过去时，要使用over，如下所示：

A plane just flew over city hall.
一架飞机市政厅上空飞过。

We walked over the bridge.
我们走过了桥。

Covering, contact
覆盖，接触

In addition, over suggests contact between two objects. Above does not.
此外，over表示两个物体之间有接触，above没有这层意思。

Use over when the higher object covers or is touching the lower object, as in these:
当上方物体覆盖或接触到下方物体时，请使用over，如下所示：

Did you wear a raincoat over your clothes?
你衣服上面穿雨衣了嘛？

Please put foil over the remaining food.
请用锡箔纸把剩下的食物盖起来。

Above is more common when there is no contact between the two objects, as in this:
Above更多用于两个没有接触的物体。如下所示：

Many bird species fly above the clouds.
很多鸟类在云朵之上飞行。

Numbers and measures
数字和度量

We also use over and above with measurements.
我们还把over和above和度量结果一起使用。

Use over for such measures as height, age, speed and time, as in these:
在高度、年龄、和时间等度量上用over，如下所示：

We have been waiting over an hour for a table.
我们等座等了一个多小时了。

The game is for children over 10 years of age.
该游戏适用于十岁以上儿童。

Above is generally used in measures of temperature, as in this:
Above一般用于温度等量度，如下所示：

It went above 90 degrees again yesterday.
昨天它的温度又超过90度了。

And that's Ask a Teacher.
以上就是本期词汇掌故的全部内容。

I'm Alice Bryant.
我是爱丽丝·布莱恩特。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)

Hi, everyone!

I hope you like prepositions because I am going to talk about them again today.

The question today comes from our reader Francesca in Rome, Italy. Here it is:

Question:

Hello, thank you VOA. I have a problem using over and above. You will certainly help me. - Francesca, Rome

Answer:

Ciao, Francesca. I am happy to help!

The words over and above can act as prepositions or adverbs, depending on how they are used.

For today's program, I will focus on prepositions. Prepositions are words that show direction, position or time.

Over and above both express that something is in a higher position than something else. And, sometimes, you can use either word.

You can, for instance, say:

The building is over a parking lot (or)

The building is above a parking lot.

They have the same meaning.

But there are times when one word is more suitable than the other.

Motion, movement

For example, the word over suggests movement. Above does not.

When the upper object moves across the lower object, use over, as in these examples:

A plane just flew over city hall.

We walked over the bridge.

The two people are wearing raincoats over their clothes.

Covering, contact

In addition, over suggests contact between two objects. Above does not.

Use over when the higher object covers or is touching the lower object, as in these:

Did you wear a raincoat over your clothes?

Please put foil over the remaining food.

Above is more common when there is no contact between the two objects, as in this:

Many bird species fly above the clouds.

Numbers and measures

We also use over and above with measurements.

Use over for such measures as height, age, speed and time, as in these:

We have been waiting over an hour for a table.

The game is for children over 10 years of age.

Above is generally used in measures of temperature, as in this:

It went above 90 degrees again yesterday.

And that's Ask a Teacher.

I'm Alice Bryant.

Do you have a question for Ask a Teacher? Write to us in the comments area and tell us your name and country. You can also tell us something about yourself.

_

Practice

Now, you try it! For the sentences below, choose either over or above. Write your answers in the comments area. Note: Some sentences may have two possible answers.

1. Can you please put a blanket ____ the baby?

2. The weather has been _____ normal temperatures.

3. My family has a small house _____ the lake.

4. There is a reading light _____ the hotel bed.

5. The quick brown fox jumped ____ the lazy dog.

6. Last night, the event had ____ 200 people.

______

Words in This Story

certainly – adv. without doubt

adverb – n. a word that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree

focus – v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific

verb – n. a word that expresses an action, occurrence or state of being

blanket – n. a covering made of cloth that is used to keep you warm

fox – n. a small wild animal that is related to dogs