What Does “Check sth over” Mean?
“Check sth over” means to carefully examine or inspect something to make sure it is correct, complete, or in good condition.
Introduction
The phrase “check sth over” is a common phrasal verb used in English to describe the action of reviewing or inspecting something thoroughly. When you “check something over,” you look at it carefully, often to find mistakes, problems, or to ensure everything is as it should be. This phrase is useful in many situations, such as reviewing documents, inspecting equipment, or even checking a room before leaving. Understanding the “check sth over” meaning helps you communicate clearly when you want to emphasize careful examination. It is an essential expression for both casual and professional contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: check something over
- Type: transitive
- Level: A2–B2
- Short meaning: to examine something carefully
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Check sth over” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) either between “check” and “over” or after “over.”
- Check something over
- Check over something
Examples:
- I will check the report over before submitting it.
- Can you check over the contract carefully?
How to Use “Check sth over”?
Use “check sth over” when you want to say that someone is inspecting or reviewing something carefully. It is often used in both spoken and written English. You can use it in formal and informal situations, especially when emphasizing accuracy or thoroughness.
This phrasal verb is commonly followed by nouns such as documents, work, equipment, or details. It can also be used with pronouns like “it,” “them,” or “this.”
Examples
- Before sending the email, I always check it over for errors.
- The mechanic checked over the car to find the problem.
- Please check over the list to make sure we haven’t missed anything.
- She checked the contract over carefully before signing it.
- Can you check over my homework and tell me if it’s correct?
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I check over carefully the report.
Correct: I check the report over carefully. - Incorrect: Please check over it.
Correct: Please check it over. - Incorrect: They checked over the details thoroughly.
Correct: They checked the details over thoroughly.
Differences / Synonyms
Check sth over vs Look over: Both mean to examine something, but “look over” is less thorough and more casual.
Check sth over vs Go over: “Go over” can mean review or discuss carefully, often with more focus on understanding than just inspection.
Check sth over vs Inspect: “Inspect” is more formal and often used for official or professional examinations.
Common Collocations
- Check the report over
- Check the equipment over
- Check the contract over
- Check the homework over
- Check the details over
- Check the room over
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of check sth over:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Can you check over my presentation slides before the meeting?
Ben: Sure! I’ll check them over and let you know if I find any mistakes.
Anna: Thanks! I want to make sure everything is perfect.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “check sth over”:
- Before submitting your essay, you should ______ it ______ for any spelling errors.
- The engineer will ______ the machine ______ to find the issue.
- Can you ______ these documents ______ before we sign them?
FAQs
- Q: Is “check sth over” formal or informal?
A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can I use “check over” without an object?
A: No, “check over” always requires an object (something to check).
- Q: Is “check sth over” separable?
A: Yes, you can separate the verb and particle by placing the object in between.
- Q: What is a synonym of “check sth over”?
A: “Look over” and “go over” are common synonyms.
- Q: Can “check sth over” be used in questions?
A: Yes, for example, “Can you check the report over?”
