here/over here

Question

1. We are here. 2. We are over here.What's the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?3. The penguins are there.4. The penguins are over there.What's the difference in meaning between #3 and #4?

Philip · Accepted Answer

Teo
1. We are here.

2. We are over here.

What's the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?

3. The penguins are there.

4. The penguins are over there.

What's the difference in meaning between #3 and #4?

No significant difference in meaning. "over" might indicate a slightly further distance. It might also indicate a direction other than the one the other person is looking. Basically, I think that "over" is redundant, though common in usage.

CalifJim · Answer

The meanings in each pair are nearly identical.

over acknowledges an attempt to find a person or thing. Without it, it can mean the same thing. But without it, there may be more emphasis on arrival somewhere.

If I arrive at a party (to which I have been invited), I say "I'm here!", not "I'm over here!" No one is trying to find me, of course!

If I have strayed from the trail while hiking in the woods with friends, and they notice I'm missing and call my name, I answer "I'm over here!" to acknowledge the attempt to find me. (In this situation, I can also answer "I'm here!"; over is not absolutely necessary.)

The penguins are there assumes the listener will see them immediately. Or it may mean that the listener already knows where they are. They are in the usual place where new penguins arrive, and this statement just says that they have arrived. This can be extended to The penguins are there now. You can go and get them and put them in their new home.
The penguins are over there assumes the listener is trying to find the penguins, most likely just visually as someone helps by pointing, but also in the case where a zoo patron has just inquired where the penguin exhibit is located, or even in the case of the zoo-keeper whose penguins have got loose!

CJ

here/over here

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