Prepositions of Movement

Express direction, motion, and movement from one place to another

What are Prepositions of Movement?

Prepositions of movement (also called prepositions of direction) describe motion from one place to another. They answer "Where to?" or "In which direction?" and are used with verbs of movement like go, come, walk, run, drive, fly, etc.

Compare: "I'm at home" (place - no movement) vs. "I'm going to home" (movement - direction).

TO (Toward a Destination)

Moving toward a place:

I'm going to school. (destination)
She walked to the park.
They drove to London.
Come to my house!
We're traveling to France.
He ran to the store.

Exception: home (no "to"):

I'm going home. (NOT "to home")
Come home early!

INTO (From Outside to Inside)

Entering an enclosed space:

She walked into the room. (entered)
He jumped into the pool.
They went into the building.
The cat ran into the house.
Put the coins into your pocket.
She poured water into the glass.

OUT OF (From Inside to Outside)

Leaving an enclosed space:

He walked out of the room. (exited)
She jumped out of the car.
They ran out of the building.
Take the book out of your bag.
The bird flew out of the cage.

ONTO (Movement to a Surface)

Moving to the top of something:

She jumped onto the bed. (from floor to surface)
He climbed onto the roof.
The cat jumped onto the table.
Put the book onto the shelf.
They stepped onto the stage.

OFF (Movement From a Surface)

Leaving a surface:

She jumped off the bed.
He fell off the ladder.
Get off the bus at the next stop.
The cat jumped off the table.
Take your feet off the sofa!

THROUGH (From One Side to the Other)

Passing through something:

We walked through the park. (entered and exited)
The train goes through the tunnel.
She looked through the window.
He drove through the city.
The bullet went through the wall.
Water flows through the pipes.

ACROSS (From One Side to the Other Side)

Crossing a surface or area:

She walked across the street. (from one side to the other)
We swam across the river.
The cat ran across the room.
They traveled across the country.
He drew a line across the paper.

ALONG (Following a Line or Path)

Moving beside or on something:

We walked along the river. (beside it)
Drive along this road.
The cat ran along the wall.
They cycled along the beach.
Walk along the corridor.

OVER (Above and Across)

Moving above something:

The plane flew over the city. (above)
She jumped over the fence. (above and across)
He climbed over the wall.
The cat jumped over the box.
We drove over the bridge.

UNDER (Below Something)

Moving beneath:

The cat crawled under the bed.
We drove under the bridge.
The train went under the tunnel.
She ducked under the branch.

UP / DOWN (Vertical Movement)

Moving higher or lower:

She walked up the stairs. (going higher)
He climbed up the mountain.
They ran down the hill. (going lower)
Come down from there!
We went up to the 5th floor.
The ball rolled down the slope.

TOWARD(S) / AWAY FROM (Direction)

Moving in a direction:

She walked toward the door. (in the direction of)
They're coming towards us.
He ran away from the dog. (opposite direction)
Move away from the fire!

PAST / BY (Moving Beside and Beyond)

Going beyond something:

We drove past the school. (went beyond)
She walked past my house.
The bus went by without stopping.
He ran past me.

AROUND / ROUND (Circular Movement)

Moving in a circle or surrounding:

We walked around the lake. (circular path)
She turned around.
They ran around the track.
Go round the corner. (UK)

Common Mistakes

❌ I'm going to home. → ✅ I'm going home. (no "to" before "home")
❌ She walked in the room. → ✅ She walked into the room. (entering - use "into")
❌ He jumped in the pool. → ✅ He jumped into the pool. (movement)
❌ Get off from the bus. → ✅ Get off the bus. (no "from" after "off")
❌ We walked trough the park. → ✅ We walked through the park. (spelling)
❌ She ran in the house. → ✅ She ran into the house. (entering)
❌ I'm going at the store. → ✅ I'm going to the store. (movement = "to")

Practice Tips

🚶 Movement verbs: These prepositions work with verbs like go, come, walk, run, drive, fly, swim, jump, climb, fall, move.
📥 Into vs. In: Use "into" for movement (entering): "walk into the room." Use "in" for location (no movement): "I'm in the room."
📤 Onto vs. On: Use "onto" for movement (getting on): "jump onto the bed." Use "on" for location: "sitting on the bed."
🏠 Home exception: ALWAYS "go home," "come home" (NO "to"). But: "go to my home" (if you add "my").
🎯 Through vs. Across: "Through" = 3D (inside something). "Across" = 2D (over a surface). "through the tunnel" vs. "across the street."