A Comparative Study on “Over” in English.

The purpose of present paper This study examined the usage patterns of the English preposition “over,” as produced by native speakers and Korean learners of English. Data from COCA and KLCE were analyzed, focusing on eight key semantic categories, including physical position/movement, control/authority, and comparison/superiority. The findings revealed significant differences between the two groups: Native speakers employ “over” flexibly across a wide range of categories, demonstrating its use in both literal and abstract contexts. In contrast, Korean learners display a strong reliance on the spatial meaning of “over,” with limited application in abstract categories. A χ² test confirmed the statistical significance of these differences, and the Cramér’s V of 0.195 indicated a moderate association between group membership and usage patterns. These results underscore the impact of L1 influence on prepositional usage and suggest that Korean learners will benefit from targeted instruction focusing on the metaphorical and abstract meanings of “over.” The paper concludes with pedagogical recommendations.