meaning of "He spilled water on my paperwork"

[Boddy]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #45 "Basic English Expressions", question 2

Valerie spilled water ......... my paperwork.

(a) in
(b) on
(c) at
(d) across

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #45 "Basic English Expressions", answer 2

Valerie spilled water on my paperwork.

Correct answer: (b) on
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What does the whole sentence mean?

Thanks.
Boddy

[Conchita]

Valerie spilled water on my paperwork.

The sentence means that Valerie poured water out of a container (by mistake) on the piece(s) of paper I was working on.

[Gino12]

why not usa "in" in this case?

[Beeesneees]

Because there is no 'inside' to a sheet of paper. Although the paper will eventually absorb the water, it does not go into the paper the way it can be poured into a cup, jug, vase, box, etc. It goes on (the surface of) the paper.
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett