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Marlowe1999 Posted 23 years ago
Grammar
Under, Underneath and Beneath.
Hi,
Can someone tell me the difference between:
Under, Underneath and Beneath.
TIA
Phillip
Can someone tell me the difference between:
Under, Underneath and Beneath.
TIA
Phillip
Top answer
Hi Phillip, welcome to the forums! : Underneath is less used than under (simply a shorter version) Basically they're all the same word, under is just a shorter version of underneath (through years of the language changing with use) Under is probably a little more flexible, so safest to use. While beneath is still a great word, it can sound out-of-place is CERTAIN sentences: I'm beneath the bed.
- Hi Phillip, welcome to the forums!
- : Underneath is less used than under (simply a shorter version) Basically they're all the same word, under is just a shorter version of underneath (through years of the language changing with use) Under is probably a little more flexible, so safest to use.
- While beneath is still a great word, it can sound out-of-place is CERTAIN sentences: I'm beneath the bed.
- ) I'm under/underneath the bed.
- (ok) “Beneath the supermarket” would sound a little strange too.
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15 Answers
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Hi Phillip, welcome to the forums!
Ok, not a dictionary definition, this from my "English speaking" head!:
Underneath is less used than under (simply a shorter version)
Basically they're all the same word, under is just a shorter version of underneath (through years of the language changing with use) Under is probably a little more flexible, so s
Ok, not a dictionary definition, this from my "English speaking" head!:
Underneath is less used than under (simply a shorter version)
Basically they're all the same word, under is just a shorter version of underneath (through years of the language changing with use) Under is probably a little more flexible, so s
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beneath can also mean unworthy, undignified... two examples: 1) a king cannot marry a commoner, that would be beneath him 2) i will NOT wash dishes for it is a task that is beneath me
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This is what I say to my students:
Beneath: It's safer to keep it for abstract meanings. like in she married beneath him.
bellow is used to indicate a space between the two surfaces. They live bellow us
under is used to indicate contact ; He put the letter under his pillow; it's used in a general way, and it has got some other meanings.
Beneath: It's safer to keep it for abstract meanings. like in she married beneath him.
bellow is used to indicate a space between the two surfaces. They live bellow us
under is used to indicate contact ; He put the letter under his pillow; it's used in a general way, and it has got some other meanings.
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QUOTE: bellow is used to indicate a space between the two surfaces. They live bellow us
Allow me to correct you. "Bellow" means to shout very loudly.
The word you miscopied is "below".
It's a common mistake, but I still can't understand why people confuse the two.
Allow me to correct you. "Bellow" means to shout very loudly.
The word you miscopied is "below".
It's a common mistake, but I still can't understand why people confuse the two.
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Thanks for posting those links, Paco - I knew we had discussed this before, but was not sure how to find the earlier posts and put in links.
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It's a common mistake, but I still can't understand why people confuse the two.
I also can't understand why Americans confuse "choose" with "chose" and why Britishers refer to Australia as "down under".
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But Australia IS down under!
It's on the opposite side of the Earth from the UK (give or take a few thousand miles). Everyone walks upside down. Well known fact. And they call us "pommies" because we go red as a pomegranate in the sun.
It's on the opposite side of the Earth from the UK (give or take a few thousand miles). Everyone walks upside down. Well known fact. And they call us "pommies" because we go red as a pomegranate in the sun.
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I also can't understand why Americans confuse "choose" with "chose."
What makes you think we do? I don't think this is a very common mistake.
What makes you think we do? I don't think this is a very common mistake.
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But Australia IS down under!
In Australia you'd say Britain "IS down under". "Top and above" or "down under" are relative terms, relative to where (or perhaps, what you think) you are.
To my knowledge, in Britain(in the olden days), convicts and other criminals were sent to rot in the dungeons down under------and
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