Skip to main content

English Grammar: On Verses Upon

 

On and upon

What’s the difference between on and upon? 

There are two ways to answer this question, the first way is "Formality"!

 ‘On’ is generally considered to be more common, and is preferred for everyday use. ‘Upon’ on the other hand, is far more formal, and should not be used all the time, instead of ‘on’. The two words, ‘on’ and ‘upon’ are mostly interchangeable, but not always.

Both words function as prepositions and adverbs (also, ‘on’ can be an adjective).  Anytime, ‘on’ is being used, ‘upon’ could take its place, if the speaker wanted to do so. It’s generally best to use ‘on’ most of the time and use ‘upon’ more sparingly.

Examples with ‘on’

I went on a school trip to Trujillo, Peru.
Cristal put the books back on the shelf where they belong.
I’ll be waiting for you on the third floor.
On arrival, beware of the dogs.
You can only enter on my authorization.

The same examples, but with ‘upon’

I went upon a school trip to Trujillo, Peru.
Cristal put the books back upon the shelf where they belong.
I’ll be waiting for you upon the third floor.
Upon arrival, beware of the dogs.
You can only enter upon my authorization.

The second way to answer this question is about movement.
The main difference is that onto is about movement from one place to another. 
The word on is not.
If you ever have trouble choosing, look at the verb. Does it suggest movement? If it
does, onto is usually the best choice. Verbs like drive, climb, step, walk, run and many others suggest movement.

Example:
The dog climbed onto the sofa.
This means that the dog was not on the sofa at first. He climbed there.
Now, listen to the difference:
The dog climbed on the sofa.
This suggests that the dog was already on the sofa. Maybe he was moving around on it. That is probably not what the speaker wanted to say.
Here is another example:
I walked onto the bridge and took a photo.
This means the person was not on the bridge at first. They walked there from some other place.
Now, look at the difference:
I walked on the bridge and took a photo.
This suggests the person was already on the bridge. They walked around while on it.
Using on
This is an example with the correct choice
The book is on the table.
The verb be does not suggest movement. The book is already there. Therefore, you cannot say, “The book is onto the table.”
With a few verbs, such as put, you can use either word. Here is an example:
He put the book onto the table.
It has the same meaning as this:
He put the book on the table.

International Exams and Grammar: The Essential Grammar Rules You Need to Know

6 tips for improving speaking fluency in the EFL classroom

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The 50 Most Important Idioms for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.

  Due to the complexities of English, nobody, native or second language learner can honestly brag about having a proficient level of the language without a solid knowledge of Idioms.  Every day, in almost every conversation, native speakers will use idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, this means that when you, the second language learner uses an idiom in the correct context, that you have a more proficient level of English and therefore you sound more like a native speaker. Below is a list of 50 of the most important general idioms necessary for traveling the B2 to C2 language learning journey. With these idioms, you will be able to listen and speak more like a native speaker, therefore, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. Study tips for how to learn idioms. The 60 most important phrasal verbs for achieving a B2 to C2 level of English. It also he

The 60 Most Important Phrasal Verbs for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.

  Due to the complexities of English, nobody can honestly brag about having a proficient level of the language without a solid knowledge of phrasal verbs and Idioms.  Every day, in almost every conversation, native speakers will use phrasal verbs idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, this means that when you, the second language learner uses a phrasal verb or idiom in the correct context, that you have a more proficient level of English and therefore you sound more like a native speaker. Below is a list of 60 of the most important general phrasal verbs necessary for traveling the B2 to C2 language learning journey. With these phrasal verbs, you will be able to listen and speak more like a native speaker, therefore, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. The 50 Most Important Idioms for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English. Study tips for how to learn

40 of the Most Important Expressions for Achieving an Advanced level of English

  English is full of various forms of common expressions, be it idioms, phrasal verbs, metaphors, similes, slang etc and is basically a phrase or saying that is commonly used in everyday English to express certain ideas or opinions. Understanding English expressions is important for two reasons, firstly because they require a deeper familiarity of the English language to comprehend what someone means when they use them in conversation, and secondly, for those who live, work or study in an English speaking society, they reinforce your ability to understand the world in which you are living. Expressions may seem complicated at first, but they can actually be a lot of fun to learn.  Common Expressions: A New Way to Express Yourself in the English Language The meaning of an expression generally depends on the specific context in which it is used. When someone tells you to ‘break a leg’, for example, they aren’t saying that in a literal sense, but instead are wishing you good luck, us