Under, Below, Beneath, Underneath

Under, Below, Beneath, Underneath

Hello, dear English learners! Prepositions may be tiny words, but they can cause big confusion — especially when several of them seem to mean the same thing. Under, below, beneath, underneath all describe position, yet each one carries its own nuance. Understanding the differences will help you sound more natural, precise, and confident in both speaking and writing.

Today, we’ll walk through each preposition step by step, look at their meanings, and explore plenty of useful examples. By the end, you’ll be able to choose the right one without hesitation — whether you’re preparing for FCE, CAE, or simply polishing your everyday English.

Let’s dive in!

Under

We use under when something is at a lower level and often covered or directly supported by something else.

• There were a few books under the TV desk.
• It was a warm night, so they decided to sleep under the open sky.
• The floor was squeaking under his feet.
• Brian got an injection under his skin.
• I’m afraid this coat is tight under my arms.

Below

Use below when something is in a lower position, but not necessarily directly underneath.

• The water from the sink was dripping onto the floor below.
• We could see a huge whale moving below the waves.
• At the end of the day, the sun set below the horizon.
• Suddenly, a man appeared from the basement below Mark’s flat.
• At night, there is hardly any traffic in the street below us.

Beneath

Beneath is more formal. It describes something at a lower level or layer and can suggest something hidden, covered, or deeper.

• A boat sank beneath the waves.
• Michael wrote his signature beneath the line.
• There was a letter hidden beneath the layer of paper.
• The man was sagging beneath the heavy weight of the bag on his back.
• It is important to fasten the strap on your helmet beneath your chin.

Underneath

We use underneath to emphasise that something is directly below and touching or concealed by something else.

• Sara wore a red dress underneath her denim jacket.
• There was a crack in the table underneath the plate.
• The dog was fast asleep underneath the blanket.
• When they took the carpet for cleaning, they found a lot of dust underneath it.
• The notebook he was looking for was underneath the encyclopedia.

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