WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-usage of over and above, over and over, through and through, thus and so, to and fro

 

usage of over and above, over and over, through and through, thus and so, to and fro

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1. What does "over and above" mean? A) Moving from one place to another repeatedly B) Completely and in every possible way C) Occasionally and at irregular intervals D) In addition to; beyond what is expected or required

✅ Answer: D) In addition to; beyond what is expected or required "Over and above" means in addition to something already existing or required. It expresses that something goes beyond the normal limit or expectation. Example: "Over and above her salary, she received a generous bonus." It is never used to describe physical height or position.

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2. Which sentence correctly uses "over and over"? A) She read the letter over and over just once. B) Over and over, he never repeated the same mistake. C) He practised the same piece of music over and over until he got it right. D) They over and over completely forgot the instructions.

✅ Answer: C) He practised the same piece of music over and over until he got it right. "Over and over" means repeatedly; again and again; many times without stopping. It emphasises tireless, continuous repetition of the same action. It directly contradicts words like "just once" and "never."

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3. Choose the sentence that correctly uses "through and through." A) They walked through and through the park gates. B) She is a professional through and through — always calm and focused. C) He passed through and through the narrow corridor. D) They drove through and through the long tunnel.

✅ Answer: B) She is a professional through and through — always calm and focused. "Through and through" means completely; totally; in every possible way; to the core. It is used to describe a person's character or nature as being entirely and deeply a certain way. It is never used to describe physical movement through a place.

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4. "_______ his regular duties, he also volunteers at the local shelter every weekend." A) Over and over B) Through and through C) To and fro D) Over and above

✅ Answer: D) Over and above "Over and above" correctly expresses that the volunteering is in addition to his regular duties — it goes beyond what is normally required of him. The sentence contrasts his standard responsibilities with something extra he does on top of them.

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5. "The pendulum swung _______ in the old grandfather clock." A) over and above B) through and through C) over and over D) to and fro

✅ Answer: D) to and fro "To and fro" means backwards and forwards; back and forth. It perfectly describes the swinging motion of a pendulum — moving in one direction and then back again repeatedly. It always describes a back-and-forth physical or figurative movement.

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6. "The coach repeated the same instructions _______ until every player understood them perfectly." A) to and fro B) over and above C) through and through D) over and over

✅ Answer: D) over and over "Over and over" describes the continuous, tireless repetition of the same instructions. The phrase "until every player understood" confirms that the repetition happened many times. This is the defining characteristic of "over and over."

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7. Which sentence uses "to and fro" correctly? A) She travelled to and fro to a foreign country permanently. B) The anxious father paced to and fro outside the hospital room. C) He went to and fro to his new job for the first time. D) They moved to and fro to a bigger house last month.

✅ Answer: B) The anxious father paced to and fro outside the hospital room. "To and fro" describes the back-and-forth movement of pacing — moving in one direction, turning, and coming back repeatedly. This is a classic use of "to and fro." It is never used to describe a one-way journey or a permanent move.

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8. "He is honest _______ — you will never catch him in a lie under any circumstances." A) to and fro B) over and above C) over and over D) through and through

✅ Answer: D) through and through "Through and through" expresses that honesty is his entire nature — complete and total, right to the core. The added clause "you will never catch him in a lie" reinforces the idea that this quality is absolute and leaves no exceptions. It describes character in its fullest sense.

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9. Which sentence uses "over and above" INCORRECTLY? A) Over and above the entrance fee, visitors must pay for parking. B) She showed kindness over and above what anyone expected of her. C) His performance was over and above the standard required. D) The bird flew over and above the tree repeatedly.

✅ Answer: D) The bird flew over and above the tree repeatedly. This is incorrect because "over and above" is not used to describe physical height or location. It is an idiomatic phrase meaning in addition to / beyond what is required. For physical description, one would simply say "over the tree" or "above the tree" — not both together as an idiom.

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10. "The delegates argued _______, debating the same points without reaching any conclusion." A) through and through B) to and fro C) over and above D) over and over

✅ Answer: D) over and over "Over and over" captures the endless, fruitless repetition of the same arguments. The phrase "without reaching any conclusion" confirms that the same ground was being covered repeatedly. "To and fro" could also suggest debate but specifically implies back-and-forth exchange — "over and over" better stresses the futile repetition here.