Wordopedia
Prepositions of movement (also called prepositions of direction) describe the direction or path of movement from one place to another. While prepositions of place tell us where something is, prepositions of movement tell us where something is going. Words like to, through, across, into, out of, along, toward, past, up, and down are all prepositions of movement. Mastering these prepositions is essential for describing journeys, giving directions, and narrating actions clearly.
Table of Contents
- What Are Prepositions of Movement?
- To — Destination
- Into and Out of
- Through — From One Side to the Other (Inside)
- Across — From One Side to the Other (Surface)
- Along — Following a Path
- Toward(s) — In the Direction of
- Past — Going by Something
- Up and Down
- Over and Under (Movement)
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
What Are Prepositions of Movement?
Prepositions of movement indicate the direction or path that someone or something takes when moving. They answer the question "Where to?" or "In which direction?" They are always used with verbs of motion such as go, walk, run, drive, fly, travel, move, come, and swim.
| Preposition | Direction | Quick Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | toward a destination | I'm going to the store. |
| into | entering an enclosed space | She walked into the room. |
| out of | leaving an enclosed space | He ran out of the building. |
| through | from one side to the other (inside) | We drove through the tunnel. |
| across | from one side to the other (surface) | She walked across the bridge. |
| along | following a path or line | They strolled along the river. |
| toward(s) | in the direction of | He walked toward the exit. |
| past | going by something | She drove past the school. |
| up / down | higher / lower position | He climbed up the stairs. |
| over / under | above / below (movement) | The cat jumped over the fence. |
To — Movement Toward a Destination
To is the most basic preposition of movement. It indicates movement toward a specific destination or endpoint.
I'm going to the office.
She flew to Paris last week.
Can you take me to the station?
We walked to the park.
Important exceptions: We do not use "to" with home: "I'm going home" (NOT "to home"). We also say "go abroad" (NOT "go to abroad") and "go upstairs/downstairs" without "to."
Into and Out of
Into — Entering an Enclosed Space
Into indicates movement from outside to inside an enclosed space. It shows entering.
She walked into the room.
He jumped into the pool.
I put my phone into my pocket.
The car turned into the driveway.
Out of — Leaving an Enclosed Space
Out of is the opposite of "into." It indicates movement from inside to outside.
She walked out of the room.
He climbed out of the car.
The bird flew out of the cage.
Take the cake out of the oven.
In vs. Into: "In" describes location (where something is). "Into" describes movement (entering). "She is in the room" (location) vs. "She walked into the room" (movement).
Through — From One Side to the Other (Interior Path)
Through means moving from one end of something to the other, passing inside it along the way. Think of moving within a space from entry to exit.
We drove through the tunnel.
The river flows through the city.
She walked through the forest.
He looked through the window.
Light passes through glass.
Across — From One Side to the Other (Surface)
Across means moving from one side to the other, typically over a flat surface. The path goes over the top of something rather than through its interior.
She walked across the street.
The bridge goes across the river.
They sailed across the ocean.
He kicked the ball across the field.
Through vs. Across: Use through when going inside or within something (through a tunnel, through a forest). Use across when going over the surface of something (across a field, across a road).
Along — Following a Path or Line
Along indicates movement following a path, road, river, or any linear feature. The movement is parallel to the line.
We walked along the beach.
Drive along this road for two miles.
Trees lined the path along the river.
She ran along the corridor.
Toward(s) — In the Direction of
Toward (American English) or towards (British English) indicates movement in the direction of something, without necessarily reaching it.
He walked toward the door.
The car was heading towards the city.
She moved toward the window.
The key difference between to and toward: "to" implies arrival at the destination, while "toward" implies movement in that direction without necessarily arriving.
Past — Going by Something Without Stopping
Past means moving alongside and beyond something without stopping at it.
She walked past the shop without stopping.
We drove past the school on our way home.
The bus went past the museum.
A bird flew past the window.
Up and Down
Up indicates movement to a higher position. Down indicates movement to a lower position.
She climbed up the ladder.
He walked up the hill.
The children ran down the stairs.
Water flows down the mountain.
The cat jumped up onto the shelf.
Over and Under (Movement)
When used as prepositions of movement, over means moving above and to the other side of something. Under means moving beneath something.
The horse jumped over the fence.
The plane flew over the city.
We walked over the bridge.
The dog crawled under the fence.
The boat passed under the bridge.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using "To" with "Home"
❌ I'm going to home. → ✅ I'm going home.
Mistake 2: Confusing In and Into
❌ She walked in the room. (sounds like location) → ✅ She walked into the room. (movement)
Mistake 3: Confusing Through and Across
❌ We walked through the road. → ✅ We walked across the road.
❌ We drove across the tunnel. → ✅ We drove through the tunnel.
Mistake 4: Confusing To and Toward
"I walked to the shop" = I arrived at the shop.
"I walked toward the shop" = I walked in its direction (may not have arrived).
Practice Exercises
Fill in the correct preposition of movement.
1. She walked _______ the door and left. (leaving)
Answer: out of
2. We drove _______ the tunnel.
Answer: through
3. The children ran _______ the field.
Answer: across
4. He climbed _______ the stairs to the second floor.
Answer: up
5. She jumped _______ the swimming pool.
Answer: into
6. We strolled _______ the riverside path.
Answer: along
7. He walked _______ the shop without stopping.
Answer: past
8. The plane flew _______ the mountains.
Answer: over
Prepositions of movement are essential for describing direction, path, and destination in English. By understanding the precise meaning of each preposition and how they differ from one another, you can give clear directions, describe journeys, and narrate physical actions with confidence and accuracy.
Look Up Any Word Instantly on Wordopedia
Get definitions, pronunciation, etymology, synonyms & examples for 1,000,000+ words.
Search the Dictionary