Meaning trap
carry over
continue into another time
to move something that is not finished or used into a later period or time.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to move something that is not finished or used into a later period or time.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- We didn’t finish the project today, so we’ll have to carry it over to next week.work
- If I don’t spend all my holiday days this year, my company lets me carry them over to the next year.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: carry over (something) | carry (something) over (to/into something)
WrongThe holiday days carry over for the next year.
RightThe holiday days carry over to next year.
'Carry over TO' a later period, not 'for'.
Patterncarry over (something) | carry (something) over (to/into something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Carry over' is the natural verb for moving something unfinished to a later time; the paraphrase is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
carry over + to a later timeto next yearto the next sessionunused daysinto
Don't confuse it
'Carry on' means to continue doing something, while 'carry over' means to move something to a later time.