Clouds hovered over me. What about (Birds & Plane)?

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love-you-mom

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I know it is correct to say:
The clouds hovered over me.

But is the phrase "hover over" used also with birds and plane? e.g.

1- The birds hovered over me.
2- The plane hovered over me.
 

JMurray

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The term "hover" usually means to remain in one place in the air, appearing not to move in any particular direction.
A bird can certainly hover, but only a plane travelling very slowly might normally be described that way. A helicopter typically hovers a lot.
 

5jj

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Rover_KE

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That doesn't sound very natural to me.

Nor to me.

It sounds like the clouds had the choice of staying still or moving away.

Note that very few bird species have the ability to hover.
 

JMurray

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I don't have a problem with "clouds hovered".
There are plenty of examples for "cloud(s) hover(ing)/hovered" in COCA that seem entirely natural to me.
 

love-you-mom

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A
The clouds hovered over me.
That doesn't sound very natural to me.

What's the natural,then?

===============
B
1-The birds hovered over me.
2-The plane hovered over me.
The term "hover" usually means to remain in one place in the air

Is it better to use "flew" instead of hovered like;
1-The birds flew over me.
2-The plane flew over me.
 

JMurray

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Is it better to use "flew" instead of hovered like;
1-The birds flew over me.
2-The plane flew over me.


Yes, if you mean that the birds/plane moved through the air above you.
 
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