below and under / "Above" and "over"..Use of prepositions

"Above" and "over" Monday, August 24, 2009 A reader asked what the difference between above and over is. Editor Emily Brewster explains: Both above and over function as adverbs, prepositions, and adjectives, but since there is no overlap in meaning with the adjectives, I'll only address the adverbs and prepositions here. In its most common senses, the adverb over implies movement from one location or position to another: They climbed over the fence. He leaned over to see what I had written. I knocked over a glass of water. The baby is learning to roll over. She moved over to make room for them. Would you come over here for minute? I know you have the key. Hand it over, please. == The senses of the adverb above that function similarly imply only location, not movement: We lay on our backs and looked at the clouds above. Some children are fascinated by the moon and the stars above. The maze looks like person's face when viewed from above. You can write to us at the address shown above. == As prepositions, both over and above can mean "at or to a place that is higher than someone or something," but over is somewhat more common: A light hangs over/above the table. He raised his arms over/above his head. She rents an apartment over/above a bookstore. == Both can also mean "more than something": The movie is suitable for children over/above 13 years old. We've been having temperatures over/above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I value time over/above money. == Again, over is the more common choice. And there are a number of contexts in which above is not used at all, despite having a meaning that technically fits: I've been waiting for over an hour. NOT: I've been waiting for above an hour. Over 50 people attended. NOT: Above 50 people attended. == Both prepositions can also mean "more loudly and clearly than (another sound)," although again, over is more common: I could barely hear the music over/above the noise of the crowd. == Each preposition also has many additional senses that are not shared by the other. See each word's entry for examples of those. Difference between below and under The prepositions below and under have similar meanings. Both can mean ‘lower than’. Cases where below is preferred Below can mean ‘at or to a lower level’. The people in the apartment below seldom go out. Put your signature below. I feel sick, I must go below. (= I must go downstairs to my cabin.) Below: not directly under We use below when one thing is not directly under another. The sun sank below the horizon. The climbers stopped 200m below the top of the mountain. Below is used in measurements where we think of a vertical scale. The temperature is ten degrees below zero. The Dead Sea is below sea level. She is below average in intelligence. Cases where under is preferred We prefer under when something is covered by what is over it. Under is also used when things are touching. There is something under the bed. He wore a shirt under his sweater. Under can mean ‘less than’ or ‘younger than’. Below is not used with this meaning. There were under twenty people at the meeting. (= There were less than twenty people.) You can’t vote if you are under 18. (NOT You can’t vote if you are below 18.)

Website for Teachers and Learners of English As a Foreign Language Abroad

http://www.americanenglish.state.gov/

10 tips to improve your English

1. Read good English books- Reading always helps. You may have read this almost everywhere, but it deserves another mention. Pick up books that interest you. In the beginning, you will be slow while reading the books. However, as you keep adding books to your library, you will start improving.
      
2. Learn 2 new words everyday- Make it a point to learn two new words every day. Read newspapers and magazines and encircle the words you don’t know the meaning of. Look up their meanings in the dictionary and try using them in a sentence.
     
3. Converse in English with your friends and family- You may be shy speaking in English in front of others. But you can always make mistakes in front of your family members and friends. Converse with them in English as much as you can. Slowly, you will start building confidence.
     
4. Listen to English language CDs- There are English language MP3s available in the market. Buy some of these and listen to them. They will help you get the right pronunciation of words.
      
5. Try and sing along English songs- You may not like listening to English songs. However, listening to English songs is a fun way to improve your English language skills. As you listen to them, try to decipher the lyrics and sing along.
      
6. Make mistakes- Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. In fact, you actually learn from your mistakes. When you fumble while speaking, or commit a grammatical error while writing, there will be people who will help you out. And you always tend to remember mistakes that happen in front of people.
       
7. Think in English- Another innovative way to improve your English language skills. When you are thinking something, try to think in English. Phrase sentences yourself, and if possible, write them down too.
     
8. Translate your Hindi newspaper- Most people who are not comfortable with English, read Hindi newspapers or newspapers in their native language. Try and translate one article everyday in English. Once you translate, get it checked by somebody. Mark your mistakes and try not to repeat them the next time.
      
9. Don’t go after fancy words- English is not about using big words. In fact, unless you are an author, big words are not going to get you anywhere. Try not to fret too much about difficult words. Focus on the basics.
      
10. Chat in English- We all have some sort of a Messenger on our phone, the most popular beingWhatsapp. When you are chatting with your friend over the phone or online, try to do that in English. It helps.