An English question

english
@youless (112481)
Guangzhou, China
April 14, 2017 7:49am CST
This comes from my son's homework and I don't know which is the correct answer. The question is: There is a bridge ___ the river. A.above B.through C.acorss D.over Basically I think C and D are both OK. As I remember a song call Bridge over Trouble Water Is there a better answer? Since this is not a multiple choice. Thank you!
24 people like this
31 responses
@LadyDuck (471356)
• Switzerland
14 Apr 17
In my opinion the correct reply is D (over), but I would ask the opinion of an English speaker, may be @asylum could help here.
8 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
14 Apr 17
@cacay1 Grammatically "Across the river" is preferable, but "Over the river" is perfectly acceptable and in regular use. English, as most languages, is quite versatile and allows several ways of stating anything.
5 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
I am waiting for more Mylotters' suggestion
4 people like this
@cacay1 (83437)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
14 Apr 17
@youless no other correct answer but over.
4 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
14 Apr 17
My answer would be " over" cause if you say across i think it would mean the bridge is on the other side of the river, " above" means the bridge is flying above the river, through would mean the bridge is penetrating the water now you have to pay me for my opinion
7 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
@louievill Now I am curious about the correct answer from the teacher
3 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
OK, one vote for "over" now I will write you my calligraphy as a painting for your office
3 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
14 Apr 17
@youless , oh yes another thing why " above " is a poor choice because if it's not flying over the river it must be floating. If your son explains to the teacher the reason for the choice, the teacher would admire him
4 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
14 Apr 17
Both 'across' and 'over' may be correct. Actually, only 'through' is definitely incorrect. 'Across' would be preferred if you were describing a route from A to B which crossed the river; 'over' would usually be preferred if you were describing the river itself and the scenery around it and were not concerned with a journey by road so much. However, 'across' may also be used to mean 'on the other side of' (as in 'across the street'), so I think that 'over' is the required answer here. There are possible occasions when one might say 'There is a bridge above the river' but I think that that usage would be too advanced for an elementary student's homework! It would be used if you were using other prepositions in relation to the river in the same passage and would usually imply that the bridge was quite high above the river (if, for example, the bridge spanned a gorge and the river was not the main thing that the bridge crossed). The only crossing point through a river would be a ford!
4 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
I think British English is very reliable because our textbooks are British English rather than American English.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83437)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
14 Apr 17
Hehehe you are correct friend bridge over troubled water.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (160642)
• United States
14 Apr 17
@youless They never want to make things easy. I was feeling that "over" should be the correct answer.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
@GardenGerty I feel the same, too.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
This question is quite tricky
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19912)
• United States
14 Apr 17
I would say across the river sounds better.
4 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
More people choose "over".
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
14 Apr 17
I would think the teacher like looking for D but A, C and D are correct but then again C is what I would choose. Hmmmm that is good one.
6 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
At first I thought ACD is correct, then CD seems to be correct. Now I tend to think D will be the only correct answer.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
14 Apr 17
@youless good luck. Be sure to let us know what the correct answer is.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139827)
• Philippines
14 Apr 17
I think A, C and D. It depends the location of the bridge and the bodies of water.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
Now it seems more people tend to think D is the correct answer.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139827)
• Philippines
16 Apr 17
@youless It is still depends on the location and even the position of the bridge.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
14 Apr 17
I vote for "over" the bridge.
3 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
Me, too.
@Meramar (2695)
14 Apr 17
The bridge is over the river. I remember a song which Elvis Presly sung called: "The bridge over the troubled water".
3 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
I also remember that classical song.
1 person likes this
@Meramar (2695)
15 Apr 17
@youless I really love this song!
@reskyyandi (3608)
• Indonesia
14 Apr 17
I think is D, over the river
3 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
Thank you!
• Baguio, Philippines
14 Apr 17
I think it's over the river.. or could it be above? Not sure
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
In fact I asked an English friend and he told me The aeroplane is above the sea. Then I see the difference. But he also said answer C and D are both correct.
1 person likes this
• Baguio, Philippines
14 Apr 17
@youless Oh, I see. English is sometimes confusing for us non-native speakers of English.
3 people like this
14 Apr 17
By the grammatical question, I would say that the correct one is the letter "C".
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
It seems "C" and "D" are still debating. But now I tend to think "D" is more correct.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83437)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
14 Apr 17
@youless It's D , over.
3 people like this
14 Apr 17
@youless Good luck.
3 people like this
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
14 Apr 17
Over.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
OK.
1 person likes this
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
15 Apr 17
@Mass_Sonu (1021)
• India
14 Apr 17
@youless C is correct answer. I don't think D is grammatically correct, but both are confusingly close options.
3 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Apr 17
I am not sure and this is why I had to post a discussion here. Hopefully I will see a long explanation soon
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
14 Apr 17
I would also disagree, for much the same reasons as JJ.
2 people like this
@Mass_Sonu (1021)
• India
14 Apr 17
@owlwings I agreed with @JolietJake 's explanation below.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166783)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Apr 17
It depends on the action in the sentence. Here is something that might help.
Across, over or through ? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
16 Apr 17
@celticeagle It is very official
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
This is a great link
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166783)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr 17
@youless ......I hope it was helpful.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136133)
• India
15 Apr 17
We cross over the bridge and so you can safely go for 'over'
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
Thank you!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Apr 17
I vote for "over" @youless .
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
More people voted it
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339644)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr 17
My choice would be 'D' but it is a bit debatable.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
I also tend to think D is more correct.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76971)
• Germany
14 Apr 17
I love that song. One of my fav6. I would choose D as the right answer.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 17
I also think D is the correct answer.
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
21 Apr 17
What was the correct answer???
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
21 Apr 17
I don't know it yet but it is likely to be D.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
21 Apr 17
@youless oh ok!
1 person likes this