What’s the difference between “on the phone” and “over the phone”?

Answers

rosalinasalazarr

4 Dec 2022

English (US)

We’ll on the phone would be used like “can you be quite, I’m on the phone” where as over the phone would be used like, “let’s set up a time to talk over the phone”

branduhn

4 Dec 2022

Simplified Chinese (China)

@rosalinasalazarr Thank you! For the “talk over the phone” sentence, can I replace “over” with “on”?

Let’s set up a time to talk *on* the phone.

rosalinasalazarr

4 Dec 2022

English (US)

Your welcome, and yes that would work too, but you wouldn’t want to replace them in the first sentence.

branduhn

4 Dec 2022

Simplified Chinese (China)

@rosalinasalazarr Thank you. Are there any other prepositions that would work in this blank? (besides “on” and “over”)

Let’s set up a time to talk ____ the phone.

rosalinasalazarr

4 Dec 2022

English (US)

No, I think those are all that will work, and sound natural

branduhn

4 Dec 2022

Simplified Chinese (China)

@rosalinasalazarr Ok. Thank you! So “via the phone”, “through the phone”, “by the phone” and “with the phone” would sound unnatural. Only “on” and “over” sound natural here. Thanks a lot!