What are the differences between these two prepositions in these sentences:
- I tripped on the table
-
I tripped over the table
-
I tripped on the rock
- I tripped over the rock
It seems to me that I tripped on the rock implies to say that someone was walking and stepped on a rock which made him fall away
And I tripped over the rock implies to say that someone was walking, tripped on something and was knocked over the rock (.i.e.: They flew over the rock)
Is this right? Since over means to be above something, having the possibility of touching it of not.
Best Answer
I tripped on the table — you were walking on top of a table and tripped over something or over your own feet
I tripped over the table — this is a very low table, perhaps 6 to 12 inches high, and you stumbled as your foot hit the edge of the table
I tripped on the rock — you are walking on a huge flat rock and trip over something else
I tripped over the rock — you hit your foot against a rock as you were walking, and stumbled