Do the sentences given in the Discussion Area on this question have the same meaning?

Answer 1

1. He lives in the house across the road.

The above sentence is correct grammatically.

2. He lives in the house over the road.

The above sentence is INcorrect grammatically. You can cross over the road, but the house is not 'over' the road. If a house was 'over' a road, the house would be hovering above the road.

3. He lives in the house across the street.

The above sentence is correct grammatically.

4. He lives in the house over the street.

This is the same as question #2. A house is not 'over' a street or road.

5. I saw the children wandering slowly across the road.

The above sentence is correct grammatically.

6. I saw the children wandering slowly over the road.

For the same reasons as #2 and #4, the above is INcorrect.

7. I saw the children wandering slowly across the street.

The above sentence is correct grammatically.

8. I saw the children wandering slowly over the street.

For the same reasons as #2, #4, and #6, the above is INcorrect.

9. I was fortunate to get across the road without being knocked over.

The above sentence is correct grammatically.

10. I was fortunate to get over the road without being knocked over.

For the same reasons as #2, #4, #6, and #8, the above is INcorrect.

11. I was fortunate to get across the street without being knocked over.

The above sentence is correct grammatically.

12. I was fortunate to get over the street without being knocked over.

For the same reasons as #2, #4, #6, #8, and #10, the above is INcorrect.

Consider the differences in following correct sentences:

I could only walk across the street by jumping over the potholes.

He lives in the house across the road, but with a jetpack invention he could travel over the road to my house.

Over means above, not on the surface. So I can't walk 'over' a street or road.

I can walk along, down, up, or across a street or road.