Difference between "on" and "onto"

[janzar]

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

[Alan]

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
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[canadian45]

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.

[Alan]

Hi,

I'm all ears.

A
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[canadian45]

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?

[Alan]

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
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English as a Second Language
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