Across, over 或 through的選擇

Across

我們把across用作介詞(prep)和副詞(adv)。Across意為在某物的另一側，或從某物的一側到另一側，如城市、道路或河流:

We took a boat across the river. （介詞）

Across the room, she could see some old friends. She got up and went to join them.（介詞）

My neighbour came across to see me this morning to complain about our cat.（副詞）

The road was so busy that we found it difficult to get across.（副詞）

當某物從一邊接觸到另一邊時我們也用across:

The Ponte Vecchio is a beautiful old bridge across the river Arno in Florence.

She divided the page by drawing a red line across it. Then she cut it in two.

尤其在美式英語中，across from用來指人或物在“對面”或“另一邊”:

The pharmacy is across from the Town Hall.

Helen’s office is just across from mine.

我們用across來強調某事在許多地方同時發生，例如在一個組織、一個城市或一個國家内:

She’s opened coffee shops across the city and they’re very successful.

Across the country, people are coming out to vote for a new president.

我們也可以用across來表示某物的寬度或對角線長度:

The size of a television screen is measured from the higher corner of one side to the lower corner of the other side, that is, from one corner across to the opposite corner.

Across在我們談論直徑或寬度時出現在測量尺寸之後:

The building is 157 metres long, 92 metres across and the façade is 68 metres wide.

Over

over用作介詞和副詞，指某物的位置比另一物高，有時指從一邊移動到另一邊:

From the castle tower, you can see over the whole city.（介詞）

We toasted marshmallows over the fire.

We drove high up over the mountains on a narrow dangerous road.

Suddenly a plane flew over and dropped hundreds of leaflets.

Come over 經常指到訪說話人的家:

You must come over and have dinner with us some time.

尤其是當我們把它們用作副詞時，over的意思和across一樣:

We walked over to the shop. (or We walked across to the shop – the shop is on the other side of the road)

I was going across to say hello when I realised that I couldn’t remember his name. (or I was going over to say … 意思是 ‘to the other side of the street or room’)

Across 或 through?

運動

When we talk about movement from one side to another but ‘in something’, such as long grass or a forest, we use through instead of across:

當我們談論從一邊到另一邊的移動，但是在某物中，比如長草或森林，我們用through而不是across:

I love walking through the forest. (through 強調穿過深林)

Not: I love walking across the forest.

When my dog runs through long grass, it’s difficult to find him. (through 強調狗在草地裡)

Not: When my dog runs across long grass …

時間

When referring to a period of time from start to finish, American English speakers often use through where British English speakers say from … to/till …:

當指從開始到結束的一段時間時，說美國英語的人經常用through，而說英國英語的人說from…to/till…

The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 am–5 pm. (英國英語: from Monday to Friday)

注意:

我們用over而不是through來表示從開始到結束的一段時間，并且指定了一個數字(天、周等):

Over the last few days, I have been thinking a lot about quitting my job.

Across, over 和 through: 典型錯誤

• 當被某物包圍着從一邊移動到另一邊時，我們用through而不是across:

We cycled through a number of small villages.

Not: We cycled across a number of small villages.

• 當我們談論某物從一邊延伸到另一邊時，我們用across而不是on:

The papers were spread across the table.

Not: The papers were spread on the table.

• 當我們談論從開始到結束的一段時間，并且我們提到具體的天數、星期等時，我們不使用through:

We haven’t seen each other much over the last four years.

Not: We haven’t seen each other much through the last four years.