When to use "sobre" vs " en" ?
When do you use "sobre" vs "en".
2 Answers
"Sobre" se usa para remarcar que algo está encima de otro objeto, "En" se puede usar en lugar de "sobre" pero es mejor usarlo para señalar que algo está en un lugar indefinido (que puede ser dentro de, a un lado de, enfrente de) en relacion a otro objeto.
"Sobre" is only used to point that an object is on or in the top of other object, "En", in some cases can be used instead "sobre" but is better to use "en" to point that an object is in an indeterminate place (in front of, opposite of, inside of, next to etc) respect to other object.
Por ejemplo.
El libro está en la mesa / El libro está sobre la mesa. In this case both sentences have the same meaning
El policía esta "en" la puerta del edificio / El policia está "sobre" la puerta del edificio. The first sentence means "The policeman is next to or in front of the building's door", The second sentence means The policeman is in the top of the door. In spanish, second sentence doesn't have sense.
Mi hermano está caminando en la calle / Mi hermano está caminando sobre la calle. My brother is walking in the street / My brother is walking on the street.
Both sentences are right but second sentence is redundant because in spanish you only can walk on the street never under the streets, If you are walking under the street you are walking into the sewers or into a tunel.
Mi madre está en el banco cambiando un cheque/ Mi madre está sobre el banco cambiando un cheque. My mother is in the bank (inside the bank) to cash a check, the second sentence means My mother is at the roof of the bank to cash a check.
In Spain we normally do not often use sobre .
El libro está en/encima de la mesa.
Sobre would be used in other Spanish speaking countries in this example.
However, we do use sobre when we do not touch the object,
Pon tu mano sobre la cabeza de José.
