THE PREPOSITION OF DIRECTION/MOVEMENT

THE PREPOSITION OF DIRECTION/MOVEMENT

A prepositions of direction indicate that something is headed for or directed to somewhere. Prepositions of direction include prepositions such as into, onto, through, to, toward.

For example:

We watched the bus disappear into the tunnel.

A fly settled onto my bread while I was eating it.

My mom must have put the pumpkin onto someone else’s trolley in the supermarket.

The bullet had gone through his head, but he survived.

The teacher has gone to the loo again.

The snake slithered toward the bullfrog.

These prepositions show direction of movement from somewhere, and some of the prepositions used here are away from, off, out.

For example:

He warned them to keep away from his apple tree.

Two tigers walking around are reported to have escaped from the circus.

The strong wind blew the wig off his head.

Everyone ran out the door when the fire started.

Here are some more examples of prepositions of direction:

1: TO

“To” is the most common of the prepositions of movement or direction.

Meaning: a function word used to indicate movement or an action or condition suggesting movement in the direction of a place, person, or thing.

Use: We use “to” to show movement in a specific direction.

For example:

I go to school by bus.

You walk to work every day.

They came to the wedding.

Sofia flew to Canada.

2: ACROSS

Meaning: from one side to the other.

Use: “Across” is used to show movement from one side to the opposite side.

For example:                                                       

The boat will take you across the river.

You must walk across the street at the crosswalk.

3: ALONG

Meaning: in a line; a point in the length of; from one point to another.

For example:

He’s walking along the path.

The street runs along the seafront.

4: AROUND

Meaning: in a circle; in or along a curving path.

For example:

You must drive around the city center to reach the cinema.

Let’s go for a walk around the park.

5: DOWN

Meaning: high to low; to or toward the south

Use: “Down” is used to indicate movement from a higher to a lower position.

For example:

I prefer to ride my bike down the hill.

We are going down to Florida this summer.

6: INTO

Meaning: to or toward to inside of; in the direction of; to enter

For example:

Don’t go into your sister’s room!

We went into the shop on the corner.

7: OFF

Meaning: away from

For example:

Get your feet off the sofa!

We get off the train at the next stop.

8: ONTO

Meaning: to move to a position that is on

For example:

We can get onto the bus here.

The dog got onto the sofa.

9: OVER

Meaning: in an upward and forward direction across something; from one place to another; from or to a place that is higher than

For example:

The cat jumped over the dog.

You must cross over the bridge.

10: PAST

Meaning: at the far side of something; beyond; up to or going near

For example:

Walk past the theater on the right and the bank is on the left.

Go past Main Street and left at the next street.

11: THROUGH

Meaning: from one point to the other; from one end to the other

Use: “Through” is used to show movement within an enclosed space.

For example:

You must turn on your lights when passing through the tunnel.

She walks through the park on her way to work.

12: TOWARDS

Meaning: in the direction of

For example:

Who is that woman running towards us?

Walk towards the sea and turn left at the first street.

13: UP

Meaning: low to high; toward the ceiling, sky or the north

Use: “Up” is used to indicate movement from a lower to a higher position.

For example:

I don’t like riding my bike up these hills.

We climbed up the mountain this morning.