Prepositions of Direction
| Preposition | Meaning / use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | movement towards a destination | She walked to school. |
| into | movement from outside to inside | He jumped into the pool. |
| out of | movement from inside to outside | She ran out of the building. |
| onto | movement from below to a surface | The cat jumped onto the table. |
| off | movement away from a surface | It fell off the shelf. |
| towards | in the direction of (not necessarily reaching) | He walked towards the door. |
| away from | increasing distance | She moved away from the fire. |
| across | movement from one side to the other | We swam across the lake. |
| along | movement following a line or path | We jogged along the river. |
| through | movement inside and out the other side | The train went through the tunnel. |
| past | movement beyond a point | She walked past the shop. |
| up | movement to a higher level | He climbed up the ladder. |
| down | movement to a lower level | She ran down the hill. |
| around | movement encircling something | They walked around the lake. |
Tricky Pairs
to vs. into
- to focuses on the destination: Drive to the station.
- into emphasises entering: Drive into the car park.
towards vs. to
- towards = direction only (may not arrive): He moved towards me.
- to = reaching a destination: He came to me.
Note
Use onto (movement) and on (position).
She put her bag onto the chair. (movement)
Her bag is on the chair. (position)
Real world: sports commentary
He sprints across the pitch, runs past the defender, and shoots into the net! The goalkeeper dives down to the left and pushes the ball out of the goal.
Real world: tourist walking guide
Walk along the canal for 500 metres, then turn left and go through the park gate. Continue past the old mill, go up the hill, and you will arrive at the viewpoint.
Real world: emergency evacuation notice
In case of fire, walk towards the nearest emergency exit and go down the stairs. Do not run back into the building. Proceed away from the main entrance to the assembly point.
Tip Prepositions of direction appear in sports commentary, tourist guides, emergency notices, and GPS navigation ("Turn left onto Broad Street", "Continue through the tunnel"). They are essential for giving and following directions in real life.