Prepositions of Movement

Understanding Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement describe the direction of an action or the path of movement.

Unlike other prepositions that often denote static locations, these prepositions emphasize motion. They are vital in everyday communication as they clarify how and where actions take place.

Common Prepositions of Movement and Their Uses

To: This preposition indicates direction towards a specific destination.

• Example: "She is going to the store."

From: It shows the starting point of a movement.

• Example: "He came from the park."

Into: This preposition signifies movement from outside to inside.

• Example: "She walked into the room."

Out of: It indicates movement from inside to outside.

• Example: "He ran out of the house."

Up and Down: These prepositions indicate vertical movement.

• Examples: "The cat climbed up the tree." / "She walked down the stairs."

Across: This preposition shows movement from one side to the other.

• Example: "They walked across the bridge."

Through: It indicates movement within a space or volume.

• Example: "She walked through the tunnel."

Onto: This preposition signifies movement towards a surface.

• Example: "He jumped onto the table."

Off: It indicates movement away from a surface.

• Example: "She stepped off the stage."

Usage in Sentences

Using prepositions of movement correctly enhances clarity in your sentences. Here are detailed examples to illustrate their proper use:

• "She drove to the office every morning."

• "They moved from New York to Los Angeles."

• "He jumped into the pool with excitement."

• "The bird flew out of the cage."

• "She ran up the hill quickly."

• "He slid down the slide."

• "They swam across the lake."

• "He walked through the forest."

• "She jumped onto the bed."

• "The cat jumped off the counter."

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Using "in" instead of "into":

• Incorrect: "She walked in the room."

• Correct: "She walked into the room."

Confusing "to" and "at":

• Incorrect: "He went at the park."

• Correct: "He went to the park."

Misusing "onto" and "on":

• Incorrect: "He jumped on the table."

• Correct: "He jumped onto the table."

Using "of" instead of "off":

• Incorrect: "She stepped of the stage."

• Correct: "She stepped off the stage."

Tips for Remembering Usage

• Visualize the movement.

• Associate each preposition with a common action or scenario.

• Practice using prepositions in different contexts to solidify your understanding.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding, try these exercises:

Fill-in-the-blank Sentences:

1. She ran ___ the garden.

2. He climbed ___ the mountain.

3. They walked ___ the bridge.

4. The dog jumped ___ the car.

5. The children ran ___ the playground.

Matching Exercise with Images:

• Match pictures of people moving with the correct prepositions: to, from, into, out of, up, down, across, through, onto, and off.

Sentence Correction Exercise:

Correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. "She walked in the house."

2. "They went at the cinema."

3. "He jumped on the chair."

4. "She stepped of the bus."

5. "He ran in the street."

Multiple Choice Exercise:

Choose the correct preposition of movement to complete the sentence:

1. She drove ___ the tunnel. a) to b) through c) into

2. He walked ___ the hill. a) up b) down c) off

3. They swam ___ the lake. a) in b) across c) onto

4. The bird flew ___ the cage. a) into b) out of c) onto

5. The cat jumped ___ the table. a) on b) off c) through

Related Articles

• Prepositions of place
• Preposition rules
  
• Prepositions of place exercises