Preposition of Movement Made Easy with definitions and Examples

Preposition of movements are words that define the movement of a person or object from one place to another. These words are important in our daily conversation as they state the movement of an object from one place to another making easy for detailed explanation. These helpful words include ” to”, “from” and “across”. Learning preposition of movement will make our sentence clearer and easy to explain. Our sentence related to direction will be incomplete without these preposition. So, let’s look at the list of these preposition and their correct use in sentences…..

preposition of movement

What Are Prepositions of Movement?

The type of preposition that describe the movement of an object or person, are known as preposition of movement. They answer these type of question like, ” where is something moving” or ” in which direction”. They provide a clear meaning of where something is moving or from where.

Common Preposition of Movement Examples

Here are some common preposition and their use:

Preposition UseExample sentence
TOMoving towards a specific destinationShe moved from Korea to USA.
IntoEntering an enclosed spaceThey went into the haunted house.
ontoMoving onto a surfaceThe monkey climbed onto the tree.
OverMoving above something without touchingThe Eagle flew over him.
Through Moving from one side to anotherMom drove through the restricted area.
AcrossMoving from one side to anotherHe swam across the sea to win the reward.
UpMoving from a lower to a higher placeHis house is high up in the mountain.
DownMoving from a higher to a lower placeThe new restaurant is down hill.
AlongMoving in a line, typically followingThe queue was moving along the river.
PastMoving beyond or beside somethingShe said a real ghost past through her side.

Basic Preposition of Movement

1. To – Movement Towards a Place

This preposition shows movement of a person or object from one place to another. It indicates that someone or something is moving towards a specific destination.

Example Sentences:

  • He is going to the party.
  • We are heading to the hotel.

2. Into – Entering a Space

“Into” is used when someone or something enters a defined or enclosed space. It implies a change from being outside to being inside.

Example Sentences:

  • The bird flew into the classroom.
  • She threw the paper into her bag.

3. Onto – Moving onto a Surface

“Onto” describes movement to a surface. It indicates that someone or something is moving from one place onto a surface, usually from below.

Example Sentences:

  • He placed the books onto the table.
  • The dog jumped onto the bed.

Advanced Preposition of Movement

1. Through – Moving from One Side to Another

“Through” is used when something moves within a space or object from one side to another, like going inside and coming out the other side.

Example Sentences:

  • The car drove through the tunnel.
  • We walked through the forest.

2. Over – Moving Above Without Touching

“Over” is used when something moves from one side to another while staying above it, without making contact.

Example Sentences:

  • The bird flew over the lake.
  • He jumped over the fence.

3. Around – Moving in a Circular Direction

“Around” describes circular motion or movement surrounding something. It shows the idea of moving along the outer edge.

Example Sentences:

  • They walked around the building.
  • The moon moves around the Earth.

Differences Between Prepositions of Movement

Many people get confuse because two prepositions, so here is a table showing difference between them:

PrepositionKey DifferenceExample Sentences
To vs. IntoTo indicate a direction, Into suggests entryShe went to the party./ He got into the car.
Over vs. AboveOver suggests movement, Above is a static positionThe Wind blew over me./ The book is above the shelf.
Along vs. AcrossAlong follows a line, Across means going from one side to anotherThey were walking across the river./ He swam across the whole Atlantic Ocean.

Prepositions of Movement in Real-Life Situations

Movement in Travel

Prepositions of movement are very useful when talking about travel, directions, and motion.

Example Sentences:

  • We drove through the city on our way to the countryside.
  • The train goes past several villages before reaching its final stop.

Movement in Sports

In sports, we often describe actions using prepositions of movement to indicate the direction and flow of the game.

Example Sentences:

He ran around the track twice.

The ball went over the goalpost.

Example Sentences of Preposition of Movement

Preposition of MovementExample Sentence
AcrossWalking across the river is dangerous.
AlongHis house is along side the hill.
AroundThe car drove around the park for an hour
IntoShe putted her make-up into the box.
Out ofThe food was cooked out of the world.
OntoSomething fell onto the clothes.
OffThe glass fell off the table.
OverThe sweet breeze flew over him.
PastThey were walking past the lane.
ThroughHe came through the forest to reach here.
TowardI was moving angrily toward my friend.
UpUp there in the sky, sun was shinning brightly.
DownThere was one house down hill.
Across fromThe hospital is across from the school.
Away fromThat is too faraway from my home.
UnderThere was something under the table.
BetweenThe jungle is between two rivers.
AlongsideWE will walk past alongside the river.
OntoIt fell onto the couch.
OverPut some butter over the toast.

List of Preposition of Movement

  • Across
  • Along
  • Around
  • Into
  • Out of
  • Onto
  • Off
  • Over
  • Past
  • Through
  • Toward
  • Up
  • Down
  • Across from
  • Away from
  • Under
  • Between
  • Alongside
  • To
  • From
  • Over
  • Underneath
  • Behind
  • In front of
  • Beyond
  • Through
  • Out
  • Near
  • Beside
  • Around

FAQs:

  • What is an example of a preposition of movement?

An example of a preposition of movement is “through.”

For example:

  • She walked through the park.
  • What are the prepositional verbs of movement?

Prepositional verbs of movement are verbs that are commonly followed by a preposition indicating direction or movement. Some common examples include:

  1. Run intoHe ran into the room.
  2. Jump overShe jumped over the fence.
  3. Climb upThey climbed up the ladder.
  4. Go throughWe went through the tunnel.
  5. Walk acrossHe walked across the street.
  6. Get offShe got off the bus.
  • How do you teach prepositions of movement?

Teaching prepositions of movement can be engaging and interactive. Here are some effective methods:

1. Use Visuals & Real-Life Examples

  • Show pictures or videos of people moving (e.g., walking through a door, jumping over a hurdle).
  • Use arrows and diagrams to demonstrate movement (e.g., a ball rolling down a hill).

2. TPR (Total Physical Response) Activities

  • Have students physically act out prepositions (e.g., “Walk across the room,” “Jump over a chair”).
  • Set up obstacle courses where students must go under, over, through, etc.

3. Games & Activities

  • Simon Says: Give movement-based commands (e.g., “Step onto the chair!”).
  • Treasure Hunt: Hide objects and give movement-based clues (e.g., “Go through the door, then look under the table”).
  • Matching Game: Have students match pictures with correct prepositions.

4. Storytelling & Role-Playing

  • Create a story where characters move in different ways (e.g., “The cat jumped onto the table and ran through the door”).
  • Let students act out stories using movement-based prepositions.

5. Worksheets & Interactive Exercises

  • Fill-in-the-blank exercises (e.g., “The ball rolled __ the hill”).
  • Sentence matching (match actions with prepositions).

6. Videos & Songs

  • Use educational songs or animated videos that demonstrate movement prepositions.
  • Have students sing along and do corresponding actions.

Conclusions:

Prepositions of movement describe the direction of an action from one place to another. Common examples include into, onto, through, across, past, up, down, over, under, toward, and out of. They are used with action verbs like walk, run, jump, climb, and go to indicate motion. These prepositions help make sentences clearer and more dynamic.

Example: She ran through the park.

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