On vs. Upon
'On' and 'upon' are said to be equivalents and can be interchanged. In this lesson, we will learn when to use each of them.
What Is Their Main Difference?
'On' and 'upon' indicate the same meaning. Both of them are used to indicate that something is in an elevated position. The only difference between the two is that 'upon' is more formal.
On
'On' is used to show that something is located vertically at a higher level than something else. 'On' is more common than its equivalent 'upon.'
I asked her to place her belongings
They made sure everything was showcased
Upon
When we want to show something is vertically at a higher level than something else, we can use 'upon.' 'Upon' is mostly seen in formal texts and stories and is less common than 'on.' Have a look:
She depends
She depends
Tip!
'On' and 'upon' are interchangeable when they convert the meaning of 'something is at a higher level than something else.' There are other meanings that these two prepositions can show different meanings. For example 'upon' is used as 'at the time of' in sentences. In this case, we cannot replace it with 'on.' Have a look:
She smiled
Once
Comments
You might also like
Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous
There are similarities and differences between future continuous and future perfect continuous, which might cause confusion.
On vs. In
'On' and 'in' are both prepositions that show time which is why they are confused by learners. In this lesson, we will learn their uses and differences.
On vs. Onto
Have you ever been confused about which of the prepositions 'on' and 'onto' you should use? Learn more in this lesson.
On vs. Over
Have you ever wondered where to use 'on' and where to use 'over?' In this lesson, we will learn when to use each of them.
