1- "If anything remains vague, it is only because of the dark cloud which has come over my mind." (Context: He has been questioning for a while. And saying this sentence.)

What does "come over my mind" mean here?

2- Dark clouds have come over the city.

Can I use this sentence? What I mean is that: Dark clouds are above the city right now, we can't see the sky clearly.

I know in the first sentence "coming over" was used metaphorically. In the second sentence I used it literally.

3- She is a nervous flier. But once the plane got over the clouds, she started to relax.

In this sentence, what does "get over" means? To me, "got over something" means like "jumping over the wall". I mean plane is no longer above the cloud, it skipped the cloud by going above it.


"come over" means "cover". While "over" is usually used with verbs of movement, "above" is more frequently used with verbs of state. Notice you've said:

  • Dark clouds have come over the city (and now are above the city).
  • Can I used it that way? Is it understandable as is? + By the way, I have edited my post. – Talha Özden Jun 23 at 17:40
  • Yes, you can use it that way. In your new example (3), "get over" means "fly higher than the clouds", so they are now some distance under or below the plane. – Gustavson Jun 23 at 17:46
  • I have a strange feeling saying if I use "over" this way, it sounds as if clouds have already skipped the city, they are no longer above the city or plane has already skipped clouds, it is no longer above the clouds. Like my "jumping over the wall" example. I think I have been accustomed to use "over" with verbs of movements. That is why those sentences seem weird to me. – Talha Özden Jun 23 at 17:51
  • When I say "Dark clouds have come over the city." , do listeners understand that clouds are still above the city? – Talha Özden Jun 23 at 17:56
  • Yes, the present perfect expresses that: past event with a present result (as a result of the clouds coming over the city, they are now above the city). – Gustavson Jun 23 at 18:03

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