Across, over 或 through的选择

Across

我们把across用作介词(prep)和副词(adv)。Across意为在某物的另一侧，或从某物的一侧到另一侧，如城市、道路或河流:

We took a boat across the river. （介词）

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

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

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

当某物从一边接触到另一边时我们也用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.

尤其在美式英语中，across from用来指人或物在“对面”或“另一边”:

The pharmacy is across from the Town Hall.

Helen’s office is just across from mine.

我们用across来强调某事在许多地方同时发生，例如在一个组织、一个城市或一个国家内:

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.

我们也可以用across来表示某物的宽度或对角线长度:

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在我们谈论直径或宽度时出现在测量尺寸之后:

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

Over

over用作介词和副词，指某物的位置比另一物高，有时指从一边移动到另一边:

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

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 经常指到访说话人的家:

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

尤其是当我们把它们用作副词时，over的意思和across一样:

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?

运动

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:

当我们谈论从一边到另一边的移动，但是在某物中，比如长草或森林，我们用through而不是across:

I love walking through the forest. (through 强调穿过深林)

Not: I love walking across the forest.

When my dog runs through long grass, it’s difficult to find him. (through 强调狗在草地里)

Not: When my dog runs across long grass …

时间

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 …:

当指从开始到结束的一段时间时，说美国英语的人经常用through，而说英国英语的人说from…to/till…

The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 am–5 pm. (英国英语: from Monday to Friday)

注意:

我们用over而不是through来表示从开始到结束的一段时间，并且指定了一个数字(天、周等):

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

Across, over 和 through: 典型错误

• 当被某物包围着从一边移动到另一边时，我们用through而不是across:

We cycled through a number of small villages.

Not: We cycled across a number of small villages.

• 当我们谈论某物从一边延伸到另一边时，我们用across而不是on:

The papers were spread across the table.

Not: The papers were spread on the table.

• 当我们谈论从开始到结束的一段时间，并且我们提到具体的天数、星期等时，我们不使用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.