Across

across adverbs of direction and movement prepositions of direction and movement prepositions of manner prepositions of place

The word across is commonly used in the English language and it functions as both a preposition and an adverb. In this lesson, we will discover more.

'Across' functions as both a preposition and an adverb. In this lesson, we will discuss how to learn and use it.

Functions of 'Across'

'Across' as a Preposition

One of the main functions of 'across' is a preposition. Below, we will uncover all about it:

Use

'Across' as a Preposition of Movement and Direction

'Across' can be a preposition of movement and direction. Look:

When we want to indicate that something/someone moves from one side to the other, we use 'across'. Take a look at the examples below:

The couple are walking across Stewart Street.

Ladies and gentlemen, we will be flying across the Pacific Ocean in two hours.

When we want to point towards someone/something, we can use 'across'. Look:

There's mom! Don't you wanna go across and say hi to her, Anna?

I can see the 'No Entry' sign across the cave.

When we want to indicate that something stretches from one side to the other. Take a look:

This is the only bridge across this river.

Laura can see a crack across the asphalt.

'Across' as a Preposition of Place

We can also use 'across' as a preposition of place. Look:

When something/someone is located on the opposite of another. Look:

She was standing right across her aunt.

The reverend and his wife are now living across the street.

'Across' as a Preposition of Manner

Below, we are going to analyze how 'across' can be a preposition of manner. Look:

When we want to state that something covers all parts of another. Take a quick look below:

Armed forces have been protecting people all across the country.

War has been declared across these seven nations.

We can also use 'across' to show how wide something is. Look:

The Tames river is 5 kilometers across.

Position in a Sentence

As you already know, prepositions come before nouns or noun phrases. Prepositional phrases can come in the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of sentences. Look:

The Gomez family are now living across the street.

I looked across the river.

'Across' as an Adverb

'Across' can also be an adverb. Look below for more clarification:

Use

'Across' as an Adverb of Movement and Direction

When we want to indicate something/someone is moving along something/someone else, we use 'across' as an adverb of movement and direction. Look below:

He walked across the bridge before committing suicide.

Let's swim across the lake.

Position in a Sentence

Since 'across' in an adverb here, it mainly comes after verbs or other adverbs to modify them. Look:

I stared across at my ex.

They walked across talking.

Idioms with 'Across'

We have some idioms and expressions with 'across'. We will learn all about them below:

Come across: This one can be used when we find someone/something accidentally and also when we talk about how someone appears to be. Look:

As I was walking down the street, I came across a very old friend of mine, Celine.

Here, it means that he/she accidentally saw his/her friend.

Mary always comes across as a shy introvert.

Here, it is inferred that Mary always seems to be a shy introverted girl.

Cut across something: When we want to state that a group of people are influenced by something, we can use this expression. Take a look:

These ideologies cut across all political and national boundaries.

Run across something/someone: When we meet someone/someone accidentally, we can use this expression. Take a quick look:

Didn't you run across dad on your way home?

Selena ran across her kindergarten friends last week.

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