Prepositions of Movement

Use 'to' when we simply want to say where someone or something is going and show the destination. It is the most common preposition of movement.

• I am going to the supermarket.
• She walks to school every day.

Use 'into' when something moves from outside to inside. Use 'out of' when something moves from inside to outside.

• The cat jumped into the box.
• Please come into the house. It is raining.
• He ran out of the cafe.

Use 'onto' when something moves to the top of a surface. Use 'off' when something moves away from a surface.

• The child climbed onto the chair.
• The bird landed onto the roof.
• The book fell off the table.
• She fell off her bike and got hurt.

Use 'through' when something moves inside an area with sides or boundaries, like a forest, a crowd, or a tunnel. Use 'across' when something moves from one side to the other, like a road, a bridge, or a field.

• We walked through the forest.
• The train went through the tunnel.
• They ran across the road.
• I walked across the street.

Use 'over' when something moves above another thing, often from one side to the other. Use 'under' when something moves below something else.

• The bird flew over the lake.
• The plane passed over the city.
• The dog ran under the bridge.
• I saw a fish swim under the boat.

Use 'up' when moving to a higher place and 'down' when moving to a lower place.

• We walked up the hill.
• She ran up the stairs.
• They cycled down the hill.
• The shop is down the street.

Use 'along' to show movement following a line. Use 'around' when you move in a circle or around of something. Use 'past' when you move beyond a person or place without stopping.

• We walked along the river.
• Walk along this street, and the cinema is on your left.
• They ran around the park.
• I drove past the supermarket.
• I walk past that beautiful garden every morning.

Use 'toward' when you move in the direction of something. Use 'from' to show the point where the movement starts.

• The children ran towards the playground.
• We walked towards the station.
• They came from London.
• The train left from Platform 3.