0
New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Optilang, SOS

0When would you use "on top of something", "on the top of something", "at the top of something"?02br
02br
00Maybe you can help me solve this mystery or at least give me some ideas. Please provide some examples to help me see the usage02br
02br
00Thanks!0-
  

Top answer

02br 00at the top of something02br 00We started to climb the mountain at 1/2 hour intervals and we met at the top02br 00Will be back if I think of anything else 0-

— Optilang

  • 02br 00at the top of something02br 00We started to climb the mountain at 1/2 hour intervals and we met at the top02br 00Will be back if I think of anything else 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

12 Answers
0
0 I'll try02br
00 on top of something - I see 2 immediate meanings02br
00a) I'm on top of the situation - I have everything under conrol02br
00b) location of something - the cat's on top of the wardrobe02br
00on the top of something02br
00I think is more emphatic - the cat's on THE top of the wardrobe, as opposed to in it or under it.
0
0
0Afraid it's another nasty one for me - like the earlier thread - I know when to use each and can give examples - but I'm falling down badly on any kind of rule - apologies 0-
0
0
0 You will also hear news broadcasters on TV and radio say02br
00"At the top of the hour we will have the headlines followed by the weather" 0-
0
0
0I'm familiar with a). So don't worry about it.02br
02br
00Is emphasis the only difference between on top and on the top? It's not as difficult as I thought. Why didn't anyone tell me before? 050010id6
0
0
0OK, in that case, 02br
02br
00Let's consider mountain or volcano.02br
02br
00On the top of the mountain(volcano)/ on top of the mountain(volcano)/ at the top of the mountain(volcano)0-
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite10Is emphasis the only difference between on top and on the top?12blockquote
10That's my feeling - grammar experts may know more 0-
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite10On the top of the mountain(volcano)/ on top of the mountain(volcano)/ at the top of the mountain(volcano)12blockquote
10maybe try this02br
00There is snow on/on the top of the mountain02br
00I'll meet you at the top of the mountain 0-
0
0
0I may be way off here,02br
00but02br
00on top of/the seems to imply contact with the surface02br
00at the top of = relates more to the place 0-
0
0
0I'm starting to get to now. The difference between on top and on the top is still a bit vague. 02br
02br
00On top/on the top of the book is a Vogue Magazine.0-
0
0
0I can't explain why, but I would say On top of the book - on top of the book (although I'm sure is possible) doesn't sound right to me ear, and I don' think I'd use it02br
02br
00BUT02br
00On the top of the TV sounds fine as does on top of the TV 0-
0

Related Questions