Preposition of Direction & Movement

 

Preposition of Direction & Movement

DEFINITION

It always describes movement of things from one place to another and is used with the verbs of motion.

Some common Prepositions of Direction and movement are:

Into, from, off, out of, to/towards, along, across, under, over, down, up, onto, away from, around, through etc.

Example :-

• A cat ran across the road.
• A man fell off the motorcycle.
• A train is coming out of the tunnel.
• The birds are flying over the bridge.
• They are walking under the fly over.
• We went into the city style for shopping.
• Boys are swimming in the swimming pool.

Uses of some common Prepositions of Direction and movement

1. Up: Up denotes the higher position 

• The bus is going up the street.
• The temple is just up the hill.
• We will have to go up the hill.

2. Down: Down denotes from higher to  the lower position.

 

• We are going down the street.
• Our house is just down the hill.
• Suddenly chidrens started running down the street.

3. Over: It describes the condition of upward and forward direction. It generally means the position or movement without contact.

 

• The hen jumped over the dog.
• Put a blanket over him.
• The horse jumped over the wall.
• He lives in his flat which is over his shop.
• We have to cross over the bridge to visit that temple.

        

4. Onto: to move to a position that is on.

• The cat got onto the sofa.
• The baby went onto the bed with his bottle.

5. Across: It express the condition of movement from one side to another.

• There is no bridge across the river in our village.
• A cat ran across the road.
• The bike skidded across the road
• A dog jumped across the wall.
• A little boy ran across the road leaving her mother's hand.

6. Along: It express the condition of movement in one direction.

• We were walking along the beach last light.
• They were riding bike along the narrow road side.
• The king left the country along with all his family members.
•  I walked along the road, but couldn’t find your house.

7. Towards: It denotes movement in the direction of something/someone. It is the synonym of 'to'.

• He has gone towards the railway station.
• Look towards the board.
• They were going towards the park.
• We should be kind towards the poor people.
• We must be contribute towards the building of our nation.

8. To: It denotes movement towards the point of direction.

• We are going to Ranchi. (reached the school)
• She walked to the window. 
• He goes to jim for exercise.
• They went to the market for shopping.

9. Into: It denotes movement towards the interior of something or motion inwards.

• The boy jumped into the swimming pool.
• Mr. Singh walked into the house.
• The elephant went into the forest.
• She indirectly dragged me into their fight

10. Onto: It is used with verb to indicate the movement on particular the place.

• I slipped as I stepped onto the stair.
• She slipped as she stepped down onto the platform.
• As I stepped onto the ladder I slipped and fractured my leg.

11. At: At has the idea of hitting.

• She threw the stone at the dog.
• He is waiting for you at the door.
• On the road a bull ran furiously at the man. 

12. For: For suggests the beginning of a movement.

• Labours left for the factory.
• My uncle is suffering from cancer for two years.
• I have paid much for this fault.
• The child leaves for the school early in the morning.

13. Against: It shows pressure or contact.

• He threw ball against the wall.
• They always talk against me.

14. From: It is used from the point of departure.

• The lion escaped from the cage.
• They started from home at 6 a.m.
• She has already gone from the office.

15. Off and Of: 'Of' is used to show relationship from someone or something whereas 'off' is used to show relationship away from someone or something. Off shows separation.

• This bag is made of leather.
• My sister is fond of watching cartoon in mobile.
• I am tired of talking too much.
• Beware of dogs.
• He fell off the horse.
• Switch off the lights after the work is done.
• Get your feet off the book.
• The ball rolled off the table.

16. Out of: It is the opposite of into. It means from the interior of.

• Parrot flew out of cage.
• The cat jumped out of the window.
• She took out her dress out of almirah.
• My father is out of country on duty.

17. Around: It shows movement in round or curving not straight.

• The children were playing around the tree.
• We drove around the city in our new car.

18. Through: It shows movement of something entering from one side and exit from the other side:

• The metro passes through a tunnel.
• Rats enter the house through the drain pipe
• The train went through a forest.
• He has been going through the Harry Potter story book for days.

19. Under: It shows the position below something.

• The cat is hiding under the bed.
• I put your box under the table.

20. By and With: 

By is used to express the agent or person of an action; with express the instrument with which the action is done.

• The letter was written with a pen.
• The tiger was killed by Amar.
• The snake was killed by Adil (the agent) with a stick (the instrument)
• This essay is written by me (the agent)  with a pen (the instrument).
• The burglar was beaten by some strangers (the agent) with a stick (the instrument).
• The lawn was mown by the Gardner (the agent)  with a mower (the instrument).

21. On time: On time means at the time arranged not before not after.

• The train started on time from Patna Junction.
• The train left the Ranchi Junction on time.
• The 10:30 train started on time.(It started at 10:30)

22. In time: In time means not late, just in time.

• The train arrived in time at Patna Junction.
• We will return from party in time.
• The exam started in time.
• Passenger should be in time for their train.