Whether to move something over or move over something?

Question

I ran across the sentence written by an American guy in his published book, saying

Could you move one seat over?

Do you alternatively say

Could you move over one seat?

Related: “turn down the volume” or “turn the volume down” — Em., Sep 24 '18 at 09:59

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 24 '18 at 10:42

I would suggest that both are idiomatic. If you analyse each of them they can seem like they are a request for the seat itself to be moved!

I would say that the second is the one which is correct:

Could you move over one seat?

This request identifies the subject, the action, and the direction/measurement in that order. You want the person ("you") to "move over" by "one seat".

Could you move one seat over?

Under scrutiny this version sounds more like you are asking for a seat to be moved because it groups the seat and the request to move. But as I said, it is idiomatically used and would almost certainly be understood.

Your answer fully clarifies my question. Thanks a lot. – PATH Jacky Sep 25 '18 at 01:42 — PATH Jacky, Sep 25 '18 at 01:42

Whether to move something over or move over something?

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