Prepositions of direction and movement help you describe how something or someone moves from one place to another. They show if the movement is towards, away from, or through a specific location. In this blog post, you’ll learn about common prepositions like to, from, and into, which will improve your understanding of English communication. Mastering these prepositions will make it easier to express directions clearly in everyday conversations.
What are Prepostions of Direction and Movement?
Prepositions of direction show movement in a particular direction, like to, towards, and into.
Prepositions of movement indicate the path along which something moves, like over, through, and across.
Read more about: Prepositions of Place
Common Prepositions of Direction and Movement
Here is a complete list of common prepositions of direction and movement, with explanations and examples.
1. To
The preposition to shows movement in the direction of a specific place or person.
Examples:
- She is going to the park. (Positive)
- He doesn’t want to go to school. (Negative)
- Are you going to the office? (Interrogative)
Note: Be careful not to confuse “to” with “at.” “To” describes direction (movement), while “at” indicates location.
2. From
The preposition from indicates the point of origin or where the movement starts.
Examples:
- They are walking from the station. (Positive)
- I didn’t get a letter from him. (Negative)
- Did you receive the parcel from the post office? (Interrogative)
3. Into
Into shows movement from the outside to the inside of something.
Examples:
- She is putting the books into the bag. (Positive)
- He didn’t jump into the pool. (Negative)
- Did the cat jump into the basket? (Interrogative)
Note: Use “into” for movement, and “in” for a location. For example: “The cat is in the box” (location), but “The cat jumped into the box” (movement).
4. Onto
Onto means movement toward a surface or position on something.
Examples:
- The dog jumped onto the bed. (Positive)
- He didn’t climb onto the roof. (Negative)
- Did the cat jump onto the table? (Interrogative)
Common Mistake: “Onto” is often confused with “on.” Use “onto” for movement, like “She climbed onto the ladder,” and “on” to show location, like “The book is on the table.”
5. Across
The preposition across means moving from one side to another, usually in a straight line.
Examples:
- They are walking across the street. (Positive)
- She didn’t swim across the river. (Negative)
- Did you run across the road? (Interrogative)
Tip: Use “across” when there is a physical boundary to cross, such as a street, river, or field.
6. Over
Over shows movement from above something to the other side.
Examples:
- The plane flew over the mountains. (Positive)
- He didn’t jump over the fence. (Negative)
- Did they fly over the city? (Interrogative)
Tip: “Over” often involves height or distance. It shows that something passes above an object.
7. Through
Through means moving inside something from one end to another.
Examples:
- The train is passing through the tunnel. (Positive)
- They didn’t go through the forest. (Negative)
- Did you walk through the park? (Interrogative)
Note: Use “through” for enclosed spaces. Don’t confuse it with “across,” which is used for open areas.
8. Along
Along shows movement in a line or path next to something.
Examples:
- We are walking along the river. (Positive)
- She didn’t walk along the road. (Negative)
- Did you drive along the highway? (Interrogative)
Tip: Use “along” to show movement beside something long, such as a river, road, or line.
9. Up
The preposition up shows movement from a lower position to a higher one.
Examples:
- He is climbing up the hill. (Positive)
- They didn’t go up the stairs. (Negative)
- Did she walk up the mountain? (Interrogative)
Tip: Use “up” when the movement is towards a higher place, such as climbing a hill or walking upstairs.
10. Down
Down shows movement from a higher position to a lower one.
Examples:
- The ball is rolling down the hill. (Positive)
- He didn’t walk down the street. (Negative)
- Did the children slide down the slide? (Interrogative)
Tip: Use “down” to describe movement toward a lower position, opposite to “up.”
11. Out of
Out of indicates movement from the inside to the outside.
Examples:
- He is walking out of the house. (Positive)
- They didn’t go out of the room. (Negative)
- Did the dog run out of the garden? (Interrogative)
12. Past
Past means moving in front of something or someone.
Examples:
- The car drove past the building. (Positive)
- She didn’t walk past the shop. (Negative)
- Did the cyclist ride past the park? (Interrogative)
Common Mistake: Learners sometimes confuse “past” with “by.” Use “past” to describe moving beyond something, while “by” often describes being near something.
13. Toward
Toward shows movement in the direction of something or someone.
Examples:
- She is walking toward the bus stop. (Positive)
- They didn’t run toward the exit. (Negative)
- Did you walk toward the station? (Interrogative)
Common Mistake: Learners sometimes confuse “to” and “towards.” Remember that “to” usually implies the destination is reached, while “towards” suggests movement in the direction of something.
14. Under
“Under” indicates movement below or beneath something.
- Example: The children crawled under the table.
- Example: The tunnel goes under the river.
Common Mistake: Learners sometimes confuse “under” with “below.” “Under” suggests something is directly underneath another object, often implying movement.
15. Around
“Around” indicates movement in a circular direction or to various places within an area.
- Example: The children ran around the playground.
- Example: We walked around the town square.
Tip: Use “around” when the movement takes place in different parts of a circular space or area.
Read more about: Prepositions of Time
Usage of Prepositions of Direction and Movement
| Preposition | General Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To | Movement in the direction of a place/person | She went to the library. |
| From | Starting point of movement | He walked from the station. |
| Into | Movement from outside to inside | She put the book into her bag. |
| Onto | Movement to a surface | The cat jumped onto the table. |
| Across | Movement from one side to another | He ran across the street. |
| Over | Movement from above something | The bird flew over the river. |
| Through | Movement from one side to another in a space | The car drove through the tunnel. |
| Along | Movement in a line next to something | They walked along the riverbank. |
| Up | Movement from a lower position to a higher | She climbed up the stairs. |
| Down | Movement from a higher position to a lower | The ball rolled down the hill. |
| Out of | Movement from inside to outside | He ran out of the house. |
| Past | Moving by or in front of something | The bus drove past the school. |
| Toward | Movement in the direction of something | They walked toward the exit. |
Important Points to Keep in Mind
To vs. Towards
- Use “to” when reaching a destination and “towards” when moving in a direction but not necessarily arriving.
Into vs. In
- Use “into” for movement from outside to inside, and “in” to show a location.
Onto vs. On
- Use “onto” for movement onto a surface, and “on” to describe something already in place.
Sentences of Prepositions of Direction and Movement
Here’s the list of example sentences of prepositions of direction and movement:
- He walked into the room quietly.
- The children ran out of the house to play.
- She climbed up the stairs quickly.
- They drove down the street to the grocery store.
- The plane flew over the mountains.
- The cat jumped onto the couch and fell asleep.
- He went through the forest to find the hidden lake.
- The dog ran towards me when I called it.
- She moved her chair closer to the window.
- We walked along the riverbank, enjoying the view.
- He swam across the lake to reach the other side.
- The car sped past the school on its way to the highway.
- The ball rolled under the table, and we couldn’t reach it.
- She walked around the park to get some fresh air.
- They marched down the street in the parade.
- The boat sailed through the narrow canal.
- He threw the paper plane towards the wall.
- The hikers climbed up the steep hill.
- She jumped over the puddle to avoid getting wet.
- He pushed the box into the closet.
- The bus drove past the bus stop without stopping.
- We walked across the bridge to the other side.
- The bird flew under the low-hanging branches.
- She rode her bike around the neighborhood for exercise.
- He walked along the beach, collecting seashells.
- They ran through the rain to reach the shelter.
- The ball bounced off the wall and landed on the floor.
- She backed the car into the garage carefully.
- He walked towards the stage to give his speech.
- The squirrel climbed up the tree quickly to escape.
Exercise of Prepositions of Direction and Movement
1. She walked ____ the park and stopped at the fountain.
A) to
B) across
C) through
Answer: C) through
2. The bird flew ____ the roof and disappeared into the clouds.
A) under
B) over
C) down
Answer: B) over
3. They drove ____ the tunnel to reach the other side of the mountain.
A) up
B) through
C) towards
Answer: B) through
4. We walked ____ the beach as the sun was setting.
A) along
B) onto
C) down
Answer: A) along
5. She climbed ____ the stairs to reach the second floor.
A) across
B) up
C) into
Answer: B) up
6. The cat jumped ____ the table and started playing with the papers.
A) onto
B) under
C) across
Answer: A) onto
7. He ran ____ the finish line and cheered in excitement.
A) into
B) towards
C) past
Answer: C) past
8. The car went ____ the bridge to cross the river.
A) over
B) under
C) into
Answer: A) over
9. She walked ____ the door and entered the room.
A) through
B) into
C) onto
Answer: B) into
10. The boy crawled ____ the bed to hide during the game of hide and seek.
A) down
B) over
C) under
Answer: C) under
FAQs about Prepositions of Direction and Movement
1. What are prepositions of direction and movement?
Prepositions of direction and movement describe the direction in which something or someone is moving, such as to, into, onto, towards, and across.
2. What is the difference between “to” and “towards”?
“To” indicates movement towards a specific destination (e.g., “She is going to the park”), while “towards” refers to movement in the direction of something but not necessarily reaching it (e.g., “He walked towards the door”).
3. How is the preposition “into” used for movement?
“Into” is used when something or someone moves from the outside to the inside of a place or object, such as “She walked into the room” or “The cat jumped into the box.”
4. What is the correct use of “onto” for movement?
“Onto” is used when something or someone moves to a surface, like “He climbed onto the roof” or “She placed the book onto the table.”
5. Can you give examples of prepositions of movement in sentences?
Yes, here are some examples:
- The ball rolled across the street.
- They walked through the tunnel.
- The bird flew over the house.
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