http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3614.32638)http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htm#71843Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:25:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:71843Mister Micawber0http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htm#71843http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-71843.xmlFor a homework assignment, I write my name on the top of of the paper. (At the head of the paper, where we also write the title of an essay) When I take a break, I set my eyeglasses on top of the paper. (On the upper surface-- this is not 'the top' as in 'the top of' a building or 'the top of' a bottle-- it is rather a location: not 'under', but 'on top'.) Does that help? As I said, I am not confident about this idea making the difference between the two phrases 'on top of' and 'on the top of', but it seems possibly part of the explanation.http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htm#71821Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:25:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:71821Guest1http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htm#71821http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-71821.xmlThank you Mr Micawber for your help, but I don't quite understand your explanation. I have a question about the word in brackets. ('on top of' the paper would be anywhere on the upper face). What is "on the upper face"? Could you tell me more about "'top' is a location" and give examples? Thank you very much.http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htm#71675Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:25:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:71675Mister Micawber2http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htm#71675http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-71675.xml' On (the) top of the mountain/building/bookcase/Christmas tree' -- both seem to apply to equally well to vertical physical objects. ' On top of everything else/the rest of my problems/all his other idiosyncrasies'-- only this form seems to work with metaphorical tops. ' On the top of the paper/ the label' -- these seem to take only 'the top', when we mean the upper edge ('on top of' the paper would be anywhere on the upper face). Which leads me to the secret (maybe): 'the top' is a physical part of the structure, while 'top' is a location, either literal or figurative, perhaps idiomatic. They are often in the same place, so that either phrase works; but occasionally they are not. But this is just off the top of my head;...http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htmSun, 24 May 2009 03:25:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:71660Guest3http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnTheTopOf/xjqz/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-71660.xmlTeachers, could you help me with this: When would you say "on the top of...." ? When would you say "on top of...."? What is the difference? Thank you?