LoginPrepositions of Direction and Movement
In this lesson, master prepositions of direction and movement to show how something moves or changes location. Clear explanations and practice exercises to help you learn.
What Are Prepositions of Direction and Movement?
Prepositions of direction and movement are used to describe the movement of a person or object from one place to another. These prepositions always describe movement and we usually use them with verbs of motion.
Prepositions of Direction and Movement: Types
Based on their meaning, prepositions of direction and movement can be classified into three groups:
Prepositions that show movement relative to something else
Prepositions that show the destination of movement
Prepositions that show the origin or starting point of movement
Compare the examples:
The manager walked into the office.
In this example, the noun after the preposition 'into' shows the destination which is 'the office'.
The manager walked around the office.
In this example, the noun after the preposition 'around' doesn't show the destination. It means that 'the manager' was already in the office and he moved throughout the office.
The manager walked away from the office.
In this example, the preposition shows the starting point of the manager's movement.
The following is a list of common prepositions of movement and direction:
Prepositions that Show Movement Relative to Something
Across, Along, Past
'Across' shows movement from one side to the other side of something.
She walked across the street.
Driving across the desert was quite an adventure.
'Along' indicates movement from one point to the other point of something in a line.
Joe and Molly walked along the street.
They strolled along the beach at sunset.
'Past' indicates a movement to beyond a location.
Drive past the gas station, then turn left.
The police car drove right past us.
Over
'Over' as a preposition can show a movement from one side of something to the other; It is somewhat synonymous with 'across'. For example:
Let's walk over that bridge.
I watched a bird fly over the river. It was beautiful.
Around, Round
'Around' (or 'round', especially in British English) is a preposition that shows movement in or along a curved line, not straight and not going through it.
The children ran around the living room.
A big pile of clothes was on the floor so she had to walk around it.
Through
'Through' shows a movement into one side and out of the other side of something. For example
He got shot and the bullet went through him.
The train went through a tunnel.
Through vs. Across
'Through' suggests movement that passes from one side or end of an object or space to the other side or end, moving within the space. 'Across' suggests movement that goes over the surface of an object or space without necessarily moving within it.
Up and Down
'Up' shows movement toward a higher position. It also means further along a street or a road. Here are some examples:
She ran up the stairs to the rooftop.
Walk up the street until you see the bakery.
'Down' is the opposite of 'up'. It indicates a movement to a lower position. It also means towards the direction in which you are facing.
The ball rolled down the slope.
She ran down the hallway to the exit.
Prepositions That Show the Destination of Movement
Into
'Into' is a preposition that shows a movement towards a position in or inside an enclosed area or container. Here are some examples:
Mary walked into the house.
He jumped into the water.
In vs. Into
The difference between 'in' and 'into' lies in the indication of movement. 'Into' is used to describe the act of going or being moved to another location, suggesting movement towards the interior of a place or object. On the other hand, 'in' is used to describe where someone or something already is, suggesting that the subject is already located within a place or object.
Onto
'Onto' is used to express movement toward and onto a surface or into a position on top of something. Here are some examples:
The cat jumped onto the table.
She stepped onto the stage confidently.
Under
When we want to talk about something or someone that moves below or beneath another object, we can use 'under'. Take a look at the following examples:
The cat jumped under the table.
The child crawled under the bed during the storm.
Toward
'Toward' (or 'towards', especially in British English) shows a movement in the direction of something. For example:
I was walking toward the door when my phone rang.
The baby was pointing toward the little kitten.
To
'To' indicates a movement in the direction of something; it can be synonymous with 'toward'.
'To' and 'toward' both show direction or movement closer to something.
She walked to school.
On my way to the library, I stopped and got some cash from the ATM.
Prepositions That Show Origin of Movement
From
We can use the preposition 'from' to show where movement originates. It can show a movement from from a starting point. 'From' is sometimes paired with 'to' so that both the origin and destination of movement can be specified. Take a look at the examples:
The bird flew from the tree.
She walked from her house to the park.
In this sentence, 'from' specifies the starting point (her house) and 'to' shows the destination (the park) of movement.
Off
'Off' as a preposition, shows separation, removal, and disconnection. It indicates moving away from something. For example:
He jumped off the diving board.
Try not to fall off the ladder!
Out of
'Out of' is the opposite of 'into'. When we want to indicate that something or someone is moving outside of a place, we use 'out of'. Let us take a look at the following examples:
I'm getting out of here.
Jessica is coming out of the building right now.
Tip!
In American English, it is very common to use 'outta' instead of 'out of'. Bear in mind that it is only used in informal, spoken English.
Review
As you know, prepositions of direction and movement are used to talk about how things move from one place to another. The table below presents a list of prepositions that show destination of movement and those that indicate movement relative to a point or location:
Relative | Destination | Origin |
|---|---|---|
across | into | from |
along | onto | off |
past | under | out of |
over | toward | |
through | to | |
around | ||
down/ up |
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences correctly uses a preposition showing destination?
The dog ran across the road to catch the ball.
He jumped onto the bed and started giggling me.
They walked along the shore, picking up shells.
He climbed over the fence and landed in the neighbor's yard.
Sort the words to form a correct sentence.
Select all options that show origin of movement. (Select three.)
toward
from
into
through
off
onto
out of
around
Match each sentence with the description of movement indicated by the preposition.
Complete each sentence with the correct preposition from parentheses.
The kids ran
the field to chase the ball. (across/into/under)
She poured the soup
the bowl. (into/from/off)
They walked quietly
the dark alley. (through/over/to)
The cat leapt
the sofa and curled up. (onto/across/along)
He took the cookies
the oven. (from/under/into)
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