Prepositions of movement
To
Going somewhere
George went to the party
They drove to the school
FROM
Talking about someone/something origin
She is from the UK but lives in Germany.
The cheese is from France
INTO
Entering a place, building or vehicle
She went into the room
He got into his car
Talking about where a road or path leads to
This path goes into the forest
If you follow this road, you will get into the city centre
Talking about change
The caterpillar changed into a butterfly
The water turned into ice
Talking about changing clothes
She got into her pyjamas
He changed into his costume for the party
out of
Leaving a place
John got out of the car
The cat got out of the box
ON
Touching a surface
The rain fell on the roof
Ben danced on the road
Talking about which part of your body is supporting you
He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him
During the yoga class, he stood on tiptoes
To take part in an activity that involves travelling or seeing something
They went on a tour of a chocolate factory
Sam went on an expedition
To be in some types of transport
They travelled on the train
We went to Italy on the plane
OFF
Leaving some types of transport or getting down from some types of animals
Peter got off the train
She got off her horse
When something moves from being on the surface or top of something
The wind blew the napkin off the table
He rubbed the mud off his hands.
UP
From a lower place to a higher place
Tania walked up the stairs
We walked up the hill
Looking, turning or pointing to a higher position
We looked up at the balloon in the sky
The path leads up the mountain
DOWN
Moving towards a lower place
The little girl ran down the hill
The couple stood by the sea and watched the sun go down
Looking, pointing or leading to a lower place
Mary looked down at all the people on the street
The road leads down to the coast
From a higher place to the ground
Tom climbed down the ladder
The toy plane came down to the ground
Moving or looking along a road, track or path
Jim was walking down the road
He looked down the alley to see if anyone was there
Moving along a river the same way as the current
They sailed down the Thames
Henry rowed down the Cam
ALONG
Moving forward on a road, path or line towards the end of it
She was walking along the road
Ben was running along the coastal path
Moving from one place to another while staying near the side or edge of something
We were jogging along the canal
Gail’s husband was sailing along the coast
Continuing in a line beside a river, road, wall etc
Sonia took a photo of the line of trees along the river
The shops along the High Street were all closed
Through
From one end of a tube, passage, pipe to the other end
She car went through the tunnel
The juice couldn’t go through the straw because it was blocked
From one side of a window, door or gate to the other side
Fiona waved at her boyfriend through the window
The prisoners managed to talk to each other through the wall
Making a hole or destroying something
Bob drilled through the wall by mistake
The nail went through his shoe
Across an area or space
Helen and her sister travelled through Asia
The sound travelled through the forest
Using a person, system or service
She bought some concert tickets through the internet
They booked their holiday through a travel agent
Affecting every part of someone or something
The good news spread through the school.
Corruption has spread through the political party
Reading or looking at something from the beginning until the end
They searched through the papers but couldn’t find what they wanted
John flicked through the magazine
Across
Looking or moving from one side of a space to the other
He stared at girl across the room
They travelled across the ocean
Stretching from one side of a surface or space to another
He folded his arms across his chest
They tied a rope across the river
On the opposite side of a road or river
Naomi walked across the road
They waved at each other across the road
In many parts of a country or area
Wolves could be seen across the country
Sheep are grazing (eating) across the field
Something spreading until it covers the whole of an area
The Coronavirus spread across the world in a very short time
A huge smile spread across her face
Towards
The direction someone is looking, going or facing
Joanna saw the bus coming and ran towards the bus stop
He turned away and had his back towards her.
Over
In a higher position than someone, without touching them
They saw the flag flying over the palace
There were dark clouds over the lake
Moving across the space over someone
The cigarette smoke drifted over her
The birds flew over them
On someone or something and covering it
She put her mouth over her hand
Helen put the rain cover over her baby’s buggy
From one side to another
Sam crossed over to the other side of the street
Her brother’s house is over the hill
Under
Below something
The cat was under the bed
They sat under a tree
Covered by something
He was wearing a jumper under his jacket
Julia found a £20 note under a pile of books
Below the surface of the water
She swam up from under the water
The boy put some of his bath toys under the water.
Around
Moving in a circular way
They drove around the roundabout
The girls danced around the maypole
Moving to many different areas or parts
George ran around the garden
The taxi drove around the streets with its light on
Enclosing something or surrounding it
The soldiers stood around the house
He put his arm around her waist
Past
To go near a place on your way to another place
The train went past York on the way to Edinburgh
John walks past the post office on his way home
Looking at someone or something behind someone
She thought they were waving at her but realised that they were looking past her
Sam avoided looking at his mum and looked straight past her at the wall
When saying that someone or something has past a particular point
He was trying to study but couldn’t get past the first unit of his text book
Peter had just past 50 when she met him.
Now try this exercise….