Preposition – “Across”
Across
Across in the meaning: through or from one side to another:
The preposition across can often be used to mean through or from one side to another.
Here are some examples to illustrate its usage:
The hikers trekked across the dense forest.
(Meaning: The hikers walked through the dense forest.)
The river flowed across the valley.
(Meaning: The river flowed through the valley, from one side to another.)
She swam across the lake.
(Meaning: She swam through the lake, from one side to another.)
The road cuts across the desert.
(Meaning: The road goes through the desert.)
The beam of light shone across the room.
(Meaning: The beam of light extended through the room, from one side to another.)
The news spread quickly across the city.
(Meaning: The news circulated through the city, reaching various areas.)
The plane flew across the ocean.
(Meaning: The plane travelled through the expanse of the ocean.)
In these examples, across is used to indicate movement or passage through a particular space or area.
It conveys the idea of going from one side to another.
Across as an adverb:
When across is used as an adverb to mean to the other side, it often describes the direction or manner of movement.
Here are some examples:
She jumped across.
(Meaning: She jumped to the other side.)
He threw the ball across.
(Meaning: He threw the ball to the other side.)
The cat leaped safely across.
(Meaning: The cat leaped to the other side.)
We walked across hand in hand on the beach.
(Meaning: We walked to the other side of the beach while holding hands.)
The athlete sprinted across the finish line .
(Meaning: The athlete ran to the other side of the finish line.)
The kids ran across to the swings.
(Meaning: The kids ran to the other side, where the swings are.)
In these examples, across as an adverb indicates movement or action from one side to the other, often emphasising the destination or endpoint of the action.
Come (run) across—to meet by chance:
The phrase to come (or run) across is often used to mean meeting someone or finding something unexpectedly or by chance.
Here are some examples:
I came across an old friend from high school at the grocery store yesterday.
(Meaning: I met an old friend from high school unexpectedly while shopping at the grocery store.)
While hiking in the woods, we came across a beautiful waterfall.
(Meaning: While hiking, we unexpectedly found a beautiful waterfall.)
She ran across an interesting article on the internet.
(Meaning: She found an interesting article online by chance.)
He came across some old family photos while cleaning the attic.
(Meaning: He found old family photos unexpectedly while cleaning the attic.)
The detective ran across a clue that could help solve the case.
(Meaning: The detective found a clue unexpectedly that might aid in solving the case.)
I came across a rare book at the used bookstore.
(Meaning: I found a rare book by chance while browsing the used bookstore.)
In these examples, come (or run) across is used to describe the act of encountering or discovering something or someone unexpectedly.
The Preposition place in sentences