Is there a difference between going to the store and going towards the store? What about 'on the table' versus 'onto the table'? Prepositions of movement point you to the right answer; they give us more clarity and context about the things we read and listen to in English. In this article, we explore these prepositions: what they mean, how to use them, and how to avoid making the most common preposition mistakes.
| 🚶Preposition of movement | 🔎What it means | 📝Examples |
|---|---|---|
| across | Movement from one side to the other on a surface. | We ran across the road while the cars were stopped. |
| along | Signals movement that follows the edge of something. | We walked along the historic city walls. |
| around | Going in a circular path. | Let's walk around the park. |
| down | Movement to a lower position. | It's fun to ride a bike down the hill. |
| from | Signals a starting point. | How long does it take for you to walk from your home to your school? |
| into | Going from the outside to the inside of an enclosed space. | You can't just walk into my room whenever you feel like it! |
| onto | Shows movement to a surface, or to a position on top of something. | The cat jumped onto the table. |
| over | Describes going above and across something. | The dog jumped over the fence. |
| past | Expresses movement in front of or beyond a point. | He walked past without saying hello to us! |
| through | Expresses movement from one end to the other of an enclosed space. | We took a shortcut through the mall. |
| to | means 'a specific destination'. | I always walk to school. |
| towards | Indicates movement in a specific direction, but not typically reaching the destination. | Don't go towards the school, all the streets are blocked. |
| under | Describes movement below something. | My niece crawled under the bed. |
| up | Signals movement to a higher place. | I hate climbing up these stairs! |
What Are Prepositions of Movement?
It seems the English language has more prepositions of movement than prepositions describing the manner we do things - what are called prepositions of manner1. We use these prepositions to describe changes of position or location, a path something takes, or entering an enclosed space.
Why We Need a Preposition of Direction and Movement
Without these and other prepositions, English communication would be vague, imprecise, and incomplete. We would have no idea why or how anything happens, nor would we know which direction any movement takes.
Where is the dog running to? What direction is the dog running in? Why is the dog running?
"The dog ran" is a complete sentence, but it tells us nothing. So, we must use a preposition of movement to give it some meaning: "The dog ran across the street." We might now imagine the dog is running towards its master or its home. We could use other movement prepositions to make the dog's running mean more things.
- The dog ran around the house.
- The dog ran through the car park.
- The dog ran past its master.
- The dog ran up the hill.
Each of these more complete sentences gives us a clearer idea of the dog's movements, actions, and even its intentions. They also demonstrate the purpose of movement prepositions, and how your English speaking suffers from a lack of clarity when you don't use them.
Preposition of Movement Examples
The table in this article's introduction delivers a long list of prepositions, along with their meanings and a sample sentence for each. Here, we talk about the most common preposition of movement examples, adding a bit more information for each of them.
These are the most confusing prepositions of movement because they contain prepositions used to indicate place. They trip up English learners and native English speakers alike. So, we spend more time on them, to make their meaning and usage clear.
On and Onto
Though this preposition pair looks nearly the same, and they even contain the same preposition (on), they don't mean the same thing. One suggests standing still while the other indicates movement.
On: a fixed position.
Onto: moving from one fixed position to another.
Often, English learners use these prepositions interchangeably. But then, so do native English speakers. This demonstration should help you keep them apart.
❌ The cat jumped on the couch.
Meaning: the cat jumped up and down in the same spot on the couch, like a child might.
✅ The cat jumped onto the couch.
Meaning: the cat jumped from one position - the floor, a table, or a tall cabinet, and landed on the couch.
Try as we might, we couldn't find even a meme about a cat jumping up and down on a couch, clear proof that such a thing doesn't happen. However, you can find plenty of memes about cats jumping onto couches from other fixed positions.
Let this mental image help you remember which preposition to use! Now, further your learning with these examples. Be sure to note that the sentences in the second column all contain action verbs!
- The book is on the table.
- Why are you on my bed?
- I left my water bottle on the TV.
- She threw the book onto the table.
- Why are you climbing onto my bed?
- Mum placed a family photo onto the TV.
In and Into
Like the preposition pair above, these two look nearly the same, and they often confuse everyone. Also like the pair above, they suggest different meanings:
In: being surrounded by an enclosure.
Into: movement from outside an enclosed space to the inside.
Speaking English informally, it might be acceptable to use 'in' rather than 'into'. You may even prefer doing so, but you should note that these prepositions do not deliver the same meaning.
❌ My sister walked in my room again.
Meaning: the sister is marching around in circles inside the room.
✅ My sister walked into my room again.
Meaning: the sister entered the room from the hallway, probably without permission.
We can't say walking around in circles inside a room has never happened. On the other hand, it's not likely that's what the speaker meant to say. If you have a pesky sister (or someone else) who keeps invading your space, use the second sentence to accuse them. Now, master the difference between these prepositions with these sentences (again, note the action verbs!).
- The car is in the garage.
- My eyeglasses are in my desk drawer.
- The milk is in the fridge.
- He drove the car into the garage.
- I placed my eyeglasses into my desk drawer.
- I already put the milk into the fridge.
To and Toward(s)
This preposition pair is a little bit less confusing, but many people still make mistakes using them. This is how to tell them apart.
In this article's last chapter, you'll have the chance to practise placing 'to' and 'towards' in their proper contexts. For now, let's move to our last set of featured movement prepositions.
Across, Along, and Around
With these three prepositions, the confusion seems to be over which one expresses the desired idea2. This breakdown helps explain the right way to use each one.
Another meaning for 'They went around the lake': they travelled in a circle, with the lake at the centre, until they arrived at the point they started. That's not uncommon; many people have walked around entire lakes. Unfortunately, they describe their hike as 'along the lake' when 'around the lake' is the right phrase to use.
You can travel across town and around town, but you cannot travel along town!
Prepositions of Movement and Adverbs of Movement
So far, you've done a wonderful job of understanding prepositions of direction and movement. You may even be ready to begin working with prepositions that describe time. But first, let's build on your knowledge of movement prepositions.
As mentioned in this article's first chapter, we need these prepositions to help us understand what is happening. These words give context and meaning to ideas expressed in English. But sometimes, they don't go far enough. So, we add adverbs of movement to bring the picture more sharply into focus.
Recall the sample sentence we used above: "The dog ran." Adding movement prepositions helped us define which direction the dog was running in and what things looked like around it. Still, we still don't get a complete picture with movement prepositions alone.
Adding adverbs of movement removes any confusion an English speaker might cause by using prepositions alone3. These examples show us how these adverbs, used with prepositions, add meaning to complete sentences.
The adverb of movement 'up' tells us the cat must be on the floor.
The sentence "The cat jumped down onto the couch" informs us that the cat must be on something taller than the couch.
We can repeat this exercise with the sentence, "The girls walked down to the playground." From the preposition 'to', we know the playground is their destination. The adverb of movement 'down' tells us the direction of their movement.
Adverbs of movement are not strictly necessary. However, they add meaning, context, and clarity to the ideas you express.
As an English learner, you must first focus on mastering prepositions of movement. Once you can use them effortlessly, consider adding adjectives of movement occasionally. This list gives you a few such words to practise with.
- up and down
- left and right
- backwards and forwards
- in and out
- over and under
- beside and along
Practising With Prepositions of Movement
As with learning to use every type of preposition - and all aspects of learning English, practice is the path to mastery. You might have taken notes as you read this article; if so, good for you! Now, it's time to put all your hard work to the test with this flashcard set. Pro tip: use the table above as a reference!
Prepositions of Movement Examples Online
- BEGG. “8 Types of Prepositions in English Grammar with Examples | Prepositions.” Basic English Grammar, 27 Dec. 2019, www.basic-english-grammar.com/8-types-of-prepositions-in-english-grammar-with-examples.html/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
- Jones, Laura. “Mastering Prepositions of Movement in English.” Lingoda, 12 Aug. 2025, www.lingoda.com/blog/en/prepositions-of-movement/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
- Langeek. ““Adverbs of Movement and Direction” in English Grammar | LanGeek.” Langeek, LanGeek, 2026, langeek.co/en/grammar/course/701/adverbs-of-movement-and-direction. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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