Grammar › Prepositions › Prepositions of Movement
Prepositions of Movement
Prepositions of movement point in a direction. The key ones:
- to — a destination (walk to the shop).
- into / onto — entering a space / reaching a surface (into the room, onto the roof).
- through / across / along — via, side to side, following a line.
'Home' takes no preposition after a movement verb: go home, come home (not 'to home').
Prepositions of movement
They show direction — where something goes.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | destination | walk to the shop |
| into | entering a space | run into the house |
| onto | reaching a surface | climb onto the roof |
| through | in one side, out the other | drive through the tunnel |
| across | from one side to the other | swim across the river |
| along | following a line | walk along the beach |
| over / past | above / by and beyond | jump over the fence; drive past the school |
When to use each
1. to — a destination
- We’re going to the airport.
2. into / onto — entering or landing
- She stepped into the lift. The cat jumped onto the sofa.
3. through / across / along
- The path goes through the woods, across a bridge and along the river.
⚠️ ‘Home’ after a movement verb takes no preposition: go home, drive home (not
to home).
Common mistakes
1. ‘to’ for entering a space. She walked to the room (meaning inside) → She walked into the room.
2. ‘in/on’ for movement. Put the keys in the drawer is fine for position, but for the action many prefer into: Put the keys into the drawer.
3. ‘to home’. I went to home → I went home. Pro tip: to = destination, into/onto = entering/landing, through/across/along = the path taken.
✏️ Practice: Prepositions of Movement
1. We're driving ___ the airport now.
2. She walked ___ the room and sat down.
3. The cat jumped ___ the table.
4. The train went ___ a long tunnel.
5. Be careful crossing ___ the road.
6. We walked ___ the river for an hour.
7. It's late — let's go ___ .
8. He climbed ___ the wall to get the ball.
9. Correct this: 'She got into the bus at the station.'
10. Which preposition shows entering an enclosed space?
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 'to' and 'into'?
'To' shows a destination (I'm going to the kitchen); 'into' shows movement inside an enclosed space (She walked into the kitchen).
In or into? On or onto?
'In/on' usually show position (it's in the box); 'into/onto' show movement (put it into the box, climb onto the roof).
Through, across or over?
'Through' = in one side and out the other (through a forest); 'across' = from one side to the other on a surface (across the street); 'over' = above or covering (jump over the wall).
Do I say 'go to home'?
No. 'Home' takes no preposition here: go home, come home, get home, drive home.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Prepositions of Movement”:
- Can use to, into and onto for destination, entry and surface (CEFR B1).
- Can distinguish through, across, along and over.
- Can use 'home' with no preposition after movement verbs.
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