Hello there…
I would like ask what’s the main difference between “on” and “onto” or when I’m using especially “onto” instead of “on”.
I appreciate any help.
best regards,
Jan
H Jan,
The difference is one of movement or not. The food is on the table indicates it is there but The waiter is putting the food onto the table indicates that he is in the process of putting the food onto the table. The same applies to in and into as in: We are sitting in the room now and They are coming into the room
Alan
The main difference is as Alan said, so he has answered your question.
However, the situation is more complicated in that “on” and “in” can also be associated with movement, but with different meanings than “onto” and “into”.
If you want to hear more, let us know.
Hi,
I’m all ears.
A
Ok
I mentioned having "different meanings’’ but actually, at least in North America, on can have the same meaning as onto. Infact we usually say The waiter is putting the food on the table and we mean exactly the same as if we had said onto.
Whether we use on or onto also depends on what verb is used and here is where the differences in meaning appear. I would say “put those boxes on that shelf” but “move those boxes from the floor onto that shelf.”
If I said “move those boxes on that shelf”, it would mean that the boxes are already on the shelf but I want you to (rearrange them) (move them a little on the shelf).
Some might say that on here relates to position, not to movement, but it does also relate to movement. The boxes are on the shelf but they are also being moved on that shelf.
Alan, this is very similar to that test question about shifting blame. I contended that one puts blame on someone but shifts it onto someone else. Shifting blame on someone suggests the interesting job of rearranging the blame on that person, perhaps by taking some off one shoulder and putting more on the other shoulder.
In and into is very similar.
‘‘Run into the room’’ is self explanatory. “Run in the room” means to run around inside the room.
Where is John?
He’s running in the gymnasium.
Why don’t we run (in)to the gymnasium and join him.
Alan, does this make any sense to a British English speaker?
Hi,
You are simply repeating what I have already said briefly when I was replying to a question about the difference between on/to amd in/to. I am at a loss to know whether your little discourse was for my benefit or for others. No doubt you have enjoyed your little joke about shifting on in contrast to shifting onto. Clearly this is an error/typo or whatever by the test writer concerned and although I have written some 300-400 of the tests, the odd rogue one slips through unnoticed by me. As for whether this makes sense to me, do credit me with some nous, I beg.
A
I can’t work out the sentence. What does it means?
Alan,
Does not “I’m all ears.” mean ‘I am hearing’?
Alan,
Is this sentence OK?
“We are eating food on the table while the waiter is putting the food onto the plates.”
‘I’m all ears,’ means ‘I am listening eagerly as I want to hear what you have to say on the subject.’
It is sometimes used sarcastically because although the speaker indicates they are listening, it is obvious from the context that they do not really expect to get a suitable response.
We are eating food on the table while the waiter is putting the food onto the plates.’ does not make sense and sounds as if the food has been placed directly off the table and the waiter is taking it as you eat it and placing it on plates.In the original: ‘The waiter is putting the food on the table’ assumes that the food is already plated.
Beeesneees,
‘We are eating food on the plates while the waiter is putting the food onto the table.’
Does this sentence sound OK or not?
I want to use ‘on’ and ‘onto’ in a single sentence. Please help.
You could say: We are eating food on the plates while the waiter is still putting additional things onto the table. Clearly you can’t eat food on the plate if the waiter is putting that food onto the plate at the same time!
We are eating food while the waiter is putting more food on the table.
‘On the plates’ really isn’t needed.
Place the cups on the saucers and move them from the counter onto the table.
I think Canadian45 has the most complete answer. She/he described the difference in grammar in relation to English as an International Language which is paramount because of the wide usage of North American English. Clearly he/she was providing the knowledge to help the one answering the question. I have no idea why Alan became so offended, clearly a case of sour grapes.