Using the Preposition “Across”: Examples, Rules, and Practice
Introduction
The preposition “across” is a versatile word in English that plays a vital role in expressing spatial relationships, movement, and abstract connections. Mastering its usage enables speakers and writers to articulate locations, directions, and figurative meanings with clarity and precision. Whether you’re describing someone walking across a street, a bridge spanning across a river, or ideas crossing boundaries, understanding how to properly use across is essential for effective communication. This comprehensive guide aims to explore every aspect of the preposition “across” — from its fundamental definitions and structural patterns to detailed examples, common mistakes, and practice exercises. This resource benefits students, teachers, writers, and anyone eager to improve their command of English prepositions for both everyday and academic purposes.
Table of Contents
- Definition and Explanation of “Across”
- Structural Breakdown and Grammar Patterns
- Categories and Types of “Across”
- Extensive Examples of Usage
- Usage Rules and Guidelines
- Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Uses and Nuances
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Conclusion and Final Tips
1. Definition and Explanation of “Across”
The preposition “across” is used primarily to indicate movement from one side of an area, surface, or boundary to the other. It also describes the position of objects or people situated on opposite sides or spanning a space. In essence, “across” can function as a spatial preposition, a metaphorical connector, or an indicator of distribution or coverage.
Classified as a preposition of place and direction, “across” helps specify how something or someone moves or exists in relation to a boundary or dividing line. It is often used with nouns denoting physical features such as streets, rivers, fields, or surfaces, but it can also extend into abstract domains like ideas, communication, and influence.
Function of “Across” in English Grammar
- Prepositional phrase introducer: “Across the street,” “across the river,” “across the table.”
- Indicating movement: “She walked across the park,” or “The boat sailed across the lake.”
- Expressing distribution or coverage: “The news spread across the country,” or “The survey was conducted across all departments.”
- Figurative use: “Ideas crossing boundaries,” “emotions running across her face,” or “barriers across social classes.”
2. Structural Breakdown and Grammar Patterns
The preposition “across” is followed by a noun or pronoun that specifies the boundary, surface, or domain being crossed or covered. The typical grammatical pattern is:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Across + noun/pronoun | Across the street |
| Subject + verb + across + noun | He ran across the field |
| Prepositional phrase + object | The message spread across the network |
| Adjective + across + noun | Wide across the horizon |
Prepositional Phrases with “Across”
Prepositional phrases using “across” often specify the location or movement. They can be simple or include additional modifiers:
- Basic: Across the room
- With modifiers: Across the entire city
- Complex: Across the vast, open plains
Using “Across” as an Adverb
Sometimes, “across” functions adverbially, especially when describing movement or distribution without explicitly stating the noun:
- He looked across and nodded.
- The news spread quickly across.
- She reached across and grabbed the book.
3. Types or Categories of “Across”
3.1 Physical or Spatial Uses
This is the most common use, indicating movement or position over a surface or boundary.
3.2 Figurative and Abstract Uses
Used metaphorically to describe ideas, emotions, influence, or communication crossing boundaries.
3.3 Distribution and Coverage
Expressing that something is spread or available over a certain area or population.
3.4 Collocations with “Across”
Common words that frequently appear with “across”:
- Across the street
- Across the country
- Across the world
- Across the table
- Across the network
- Across the river
- Across the hall
- Across the border
4. Extensive Examples of Usage
4.1 Examples of Spatial Use
Below are tables with examples illustrating the use of “across” in physical and spatial contexts.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| She walked across the street. | Moving from one side of the street to the other. |
| The boat sailed across the lake. | Movement from one shore to the opposite shore. |
| The children ran across the field. | Crossing an open grassy area. |
| The bridge spans across the river. | The bridge extends over the river, connecting both sides. |
| The cat jumped across the fence. | Jumping from one side of the fence to the other. |
| He threw the ball across the yard. | Passing the ball from one side of the yard to the other. |
| The plane flew across the sky. | Movement through the air from one point to another. |
| The hikers crossed the mountain pass. | Traversing a mountain route. |
| The river runs across the valley. | Flowing through a valley. |
| The train moved across the country. | Traveling over a large geographical area. |
| The light shone across the room. | Light spreading over the room’s space. |
| The wind blew across the plains. | Wind moving over a large flat area. |
| The waterfall cascades across the rocks. | Water flowing over rocks in a waterfall. |
| The sun rose across the horizon. | The sun’s rays spreading over the horizon. |
| The vehicle drove across the bridge. | Crossing from one side to another via a bridge. |
| The ship traveled across the ocean. | Moving over the vast body of water. |
| The hikers crossed the rugged terrain. | Traversing difficult land. |
| The plane flew across the Atlantic. | Traveling over a large oceanic area. |
| The bridge extends across the river. | Connecting both sides of a river with a bridge. |
| The fire spread across the forest. | Fire covering a large wooded area. |
| The river flows across the country. | Flowing through various regions. |
4.2 Examples of Figurative and Abstract Uses
“Across” is frequently used in metaphorical contexts to describe the crossing of boundaries in ideas, emotions, or influence.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Her influence spread across the industry. | Her impact extended over the entire sector. |
| The news traveled across the globe. | Information was disseminated worldwide. |
| Ideas crossed boundaries in his speech. | His ideas challenged conventional limits. |
| Fear spread across the crowd. | Emotions or reactions moved through the group. |
| The message crossed cultural barriers. | Communication overcoming cultural differences. |
| Her emotions ran across her face. | Expressed feelings visibly. |
| The controversy spread across social media. | Reaching a wide online audience. |
| Knowledge crossed the boundaries of the classroom. | Learning extended beyond traditional settings. |
| His reputation crossed national borders. | He became known internationally. |
| The virus spread across the city rapidly. | Contagion moving through the urban area. |
| The idea crossed her mind. | An abstract thought occurred. |
| The barrier across their relationship was difficult to overcome. | Figurative obstacle in a connection. |
| The song crossed genres, appealing to many. | Music blending different styles. |
| The debate crossed political lines. | Involving different ideological groups. |
| The boundary crossed cultural norms. | Breaking traditional expectations. |
| The emotion crossed her face in a flash. | Sudden expression of feelings. |
| The influence of technology crossed boundaries of age and class. | Impacting all demographics. |
| Ideas crossed borders in the conference. | Sharing of concepts beyond national limits. |
| The message crossed international borders rapidly. | Global dissemination of information. |
4.3 Distribution and Coverage Examples
This category involves the spread or availability of something across a geographic or conceptual area.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The survey was conducted across all regions. | Sampling over the entire area. |
| The internet is accessible across the world. | Global coverage of the network. |
| The news was broadcast across the nation. | Distributed throughout the country. |
| The disease spread across multiple continents. | Covering large geographical regions. |
| The festival attracted visitors across the country. | People from multiple areas participated. |
| Resources are distributed across the organization. | Available in different departments. |
| The policy affects everyone across the company. | Covering all employees. |
| The medicine was available across pharmacies nationwide. | Accessible in many locations. |
| The water flows across the landscape. | Covering a wide area in the environment. |
| The campaign reached across different demographics. | Engaging various social groups. |
| The coverage extends across the entire region. | Reaching all parts of an area. |
| The electricity grid spans across the country. | Providing power over large distances. |
| The internet connection is available across the campus. | Coverage over the entire area. |
| The project was implemented across multiple departments. | Spanning various organizational units. |
| The broadcast reached across different time zones. | Covering multiple regions worldwide. |
| The product is distributed across several continents. | Available internationally. |
| The charity operates across many countries. | Providing aid globally. |
| The survey results were consistent across all age groups. | Uniformity over different demographics. |
| The policy was adopted across the government. | Applied throughout all departments. |
| The network spans across multiple cities. | Connecting various urban areas. |
5. Usage Rules and Guidelines
5.1 Basic Rules for Using “Across”
- Followed by a noun: Usually, “across” is immediately followed by a noun or pronoun that indicates the boundary or surface.
- Movement or motion: When describing movement, “across” often appears before verbs or verb phrases.
- Abstract and metaphorical uses: When used figuratively, it connects ideas, emotions, or influence across boundaries.
5.2 Common Collocations and Phrases
- Across the street
- Across the river
- Across the country
- Across the world
- Across the table
- Across the network
- Across borders
5.3 When to Use “Across” vs. Similar Prepositions
| Preposition | Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Across | Movement over a surface or boundary; spreading or coverage | He ran across the field. |
| Through | Passing within or inside something | The light shines through the window. |
| Over | Movement above or across a surface, often implying a higher position | The plane flew over the city. |
| Along | Movement following a line or path | They walked along the beach. |
5.4 Prepositions with Similar Meanings
- Over (movement or covering over a surface)
- Through (movement within or across a space)
- Along (movement following a line)
- Between (position in the space separating two objects)
6. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
6.1 Confusing “Across” with Similar Prepositions
Incorrect: She walked through the park the across the street.
Correct: She walked across the street and then through the park.
6.2 Misplacing “Across” in Sentences
Incorrect: He threw the ball across the yard to his friend.
Correct: He threw the ball across the yard to his friend.
6.3 Using “Across” with Inappropriate Verbs
- Incorrect: The news crossed the continent. (Incorrect because “crossed” is usually used with people or objects, not abstract ideas)
- Correct: The news spread across the continent.
6.4 Omitting the Necessary Noun Following “Across”
Incorrect: She ran across quickly.
Correct: She ran across the field quickly.
6.5 Common Errors in Figurative Use
- Incorrect: Emotions crossed over her face. (Incorrect because “crossed” is not typically used this way)
- Correct: Emotions ran across her face.
7. Practice Exercises
Exercise Set 1: Fill in the blanks with “across” or related prepositions
- She moved ______ the street to meet her friend.
- The river flows ______ the mountains.
- They walked ______ the park during the afternoon.
- The message was sent ______ the entire network.
- He looked ______ and nodded in agreement.
- The boat sailed ______ the Atlantic Ocean.
- We need to get ______ the bridge to reach the city.
- The idea spread ______ many countries.
- The children ran ______ the playground.
- She reached ______ and grabbed her coat.
Exercise Set 2: Identify errors in these sentences
- He crossed the river on a boat.
- The news spread across fast.
- She looked across and saw the mountains.
- The policy affects all across the company.
- The light shone across the room brightly.
- He threw the ball across the yard.
- The influence crossed the boundaries of the community.
- They traveled across the continent last summer.
- The fire spread across the forest quickly.
- She walked through the door across the hall.
Answer Key for Exercises
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | across |
| 2 | across |
| 3 | across |
| 4 | across |
| 5 | across |
| 6 | across |
| 7 | across |
| 8 | across |
| 9 | across |
| 10 | through |
8. Advanced Uses and Nuances of “Across”
8.1 “Across” in Formal and Literary Contexts
In formal writing, “across” often appears in academic texts, reports, and literature to evoke imagery of movement or spread. It can also be part of idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs.
8.2 Phrasal Verbs and Idioms with “Across”
- Come across: To find or discover unexpectedly
- Run across: To meet or find by chance
- Cross across: Less common; used poetically or in specific contexts to mean traversing or crossing
- Across the board: Applying to all cases or situations
- Across the table: In direct communication or negotiation
8.3 Nuanced Meanings and Contextual Variations
Depending on context, “across” can imply physical crossing, metaphorical influence, or coverage. Recognizing subtle differences helps in advanced comprehension and writing precision.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can “across” be used with abstract concepts?
Yes. It is frequently used to describe ideas, emotions, or influence crossing boundaries, such as “Her influence spread across the industry.”
Q2: Is “across” interchangeable with “through”?
Not always. “Across” emphasizes movement over a boundary or surface, while “through” indicates passing within an area. For example, “walk across the street” vs. “walk through the park.”
Q3: Can “across” be used as a verb?
No. “Across” is a preposition or adverb, not a verb. However, it appears in idiomatic expressions like “come across” or “run across,” which are phrasal verbs.
Q4: How do I decide whether to use “across” or “over”?
Use “across” when emphasizing movement over a boundary or surface; use “over” when indicating movement above or across something, often with a sense of height or covering.
Q5: Are there any idiomatic expressions with “across”?
Yes. Examples include “across the board,” “come across,” “run across,” and “spread across.”
Q6: Is “across” used in British and American English equally?
Yes, “across” functions similarly in both dialects, though idiomatic expressions may vary slightly.
Q7: Can “across” be used with time expressions?
Less common, but possible in some contexts, e.g., “The event lasted across the weekend.”
Q8: How can I improve my understanding of “across” in context?
Read extensively, pay attention to prepositional phrases, and practice using “across” in writing and speaking to gain fluency.
10. Conclusion
Understanding and correctly using the preposition “across” enriches your spatial, figurative, and coverage-related language skills. Its versatility allows for precise descriptions of movement, position, and influence across physical and abstract boundaries. Remember to consider context, collocations, and the subtle differences with similar prepositions to avoid common mistakes. Practice regularly with the exercises provided, and observe how “across” is used in real-world texts to deepen your mastery. Mastery of this preposition enhances both your spoken and written communication, making your language more vivid, accurate, and expressive.