over

Question

Hello teachers.I hear constructs like: invite someone over to your house, what's over as it stands there? Is it an adjective for someone?Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

The construct is 'invite (someone) over'.  'Over' is an adverb suggesting distance.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Mister Micawber 'Over' is an adverb suggesting distance.

For me, a speaker of BrE, 'over' does not necesarily suggest distance. I invite friends who live on the opposite side of the street, a mere twenty metres away, over for a drink.

Mister Micawber · Answer

fivejedjonFor me, a speaker of BrE, 'over' does not necesarily suggest distance

I don't mean 'long distance'; it is just an indication of distance, of a space. How would you define 'over' there?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Mister Micawber I don't mean 'long distance'; it is just an indication of distance, of a space. How would you define 'over' there?

Ok, it's the same for me.If the friend lives some distance away, 'coming over' suggests simply travelling that distance. If he lives the other side of the road, 'coming over' may also have the idea of crossing the street.

Now I think about it more, if he lives some distance away, 'over' has some idea of crossing (part of) town. If the friend lived a few houses down on the same side of the street, I would be more likely to use 'down' than 'over'.

That's just my feeling. I don't claim that everybody would have the same idea.

over

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