when to use "above" and "above"? The word “above” refers to a verb, while the term “above” is an adverbial phrase. These terms are homophones, that is, they have the same sound, which ends up generating doubts in writing. Let's better understand the difference between them.
Read too: Do or act?
What is the difference between “above” and “above”?
The word "above”, written together, is a conjugation of verb "top", which means “to place on”, “to place on top of”, “to lift” or “to lift”. The term "on”, written separately, is aadverbial phrase used to indicate the position of something or someone. So they are different concepts. Let's better understand the occasions when each one is used.
When to use “above”?
The word "above" is a conjugation of the verb "top", which may be the 3rd person singular (he/she) in the present tense or the 2nd person singular in the iimperative.
"Above" is used to refer to the action of "being on" or "putting on"
, when it comes to the specified conjugations. Let's look at its use in some examples.an ornament above the furniture in the room.
top you have this decoration on the living room furniture.
To find out if it is the verb "to top", just see if it is possible to conjugate it in another tense or person:
an ornament on top the furniture in the room before we change the decor.
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When to use “on top”?
The term "above" is aadverbial phrase of place composed of the preposition “in” and the adverb “above”. As it is an adverbial phrase, "on top" does not indicate the action of being or placing, but the position in which something or someone is. Thus, it is also common for the preposition “of” to appear after the term “on top” to indicate a complement: “on top of”. In addition, it is also common to have a verb accompanying this phrase. Look:
an ornament it isonof living room furniture.
put you this ornament onof living room furniture.
Eventually, it is possible that there is no verb or preposition “of”, when the complement is not explicit.
Where's the ornament?
On here on.
In the latter case, it is assumed that there are elements omitted, such as the verb and the complement: "[it is] Up here [of the furniture].”
See too: A or is there?
solved exercises
Question 1 - Read the sentences below.
1. _______ you have this bottle in the cupboard.
2. A nice hat _____ that gentleman's head.
3. My cat lives _______ from television.
4. ______ on the dresser is my book.
The sentences are adequately completed by the following words:
A) Top; above; on; On.
B) Top; on; above; On.
C) Top; on; above; On.
D) Above; above; on; Above.
E) Above; on; above; Above.
Resolution
Alternative A. The first two sentences ask for the conjugation of the verb “top”, while the last two are adequately completed by the adverbial phrase.
Question 2 - Rewrite the sentence below, replacing the verb “above” with the adverbial phrase “above”, making the necessary adaptations.
"The bow above Gabriela's head is the most colorful in the courtyard."
Resolution
"The bow on top of Gabriela's head is the most colorful in the courtyard."
By Guilherme Viana
grammar teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
VIANA, William. "Above or above?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/encima-ou-cima.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.