Prepositions of Movement in English Grammar

Prepositions of movement are used to show movement from one place to another. They are most often used with verbs of motion and are found after the verb.

This lesson introduces some of the most common prepositions of movement in English.

To: show movement in a specific direction

• He will travel to New York this summer holiday.

from: used to show the place where someone or something starts

• What time does the flight from Amsterdam arrive?

across: show movement from one side to the opposite side

• The boys swam across the lake.

along: move or look towards the end

• We went for a walk along the beach at twilight.

around/round: go along its edge in a circular direction

• Her hair whipped around her face in the wind.

into: go from outside a space to inside a space

• Don’t put new wine into old bottles.

out of: go from inside a space to outside a space

• If you can’t stand the heat, you should get out of the kitchen.

off: away from

• We get off at the next station.

onto: used to show movement into or on a particular place

• I slipped as I stepped onto the platform.

over: pass above something

• He jumped over the wall.

through: show movement from one side of an enclosed space to the other side

• David walked slowly through the woods.

toward(s): in the direction of, or closer to someone or something

• The cat is creeping silently towards the bird.

up: indicate movement from a lower to a higher position

• She doesn’t like riding her bike up these hills.

down: indicate movement from a higher to a lower position

• It’s easier to run down the hill than go up.

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Prepositions of Place and Movement