Prepositions of direction

In a separate group in English, prepositions of direction are distinguished, which are mainly used with verbs that mean movement. These are verbs such as go, run, come, swim, arrive, fly, travel, move, walk, drive.  

Naturally, the use of these prepositions with other words is impossible. For other situations, there are prepositions of place and time. 

It should also be remembered that usually after prepositions of direction there will be a definite article the, with rare exceptions, where without them. 

 

To / Towards – in the direction of something 

One of the most common prepositions, which, at the same time, plunges many into a stupor, being also a particle in the infinitive construction, and having the meaning "towards". 

As prepositions to and towards can be considered equivalent and interchangeable. They will be translated differently depending on the context.

• I am going to the shop. 
• He comes to the nearest school. 
• They swam to the boat. 
• We are walking towards you, just stand still. 

 

! It should be remembered that the definite article is not used with words that denote a state, activity or occupation (work, study).

 

From  

The preposition is most often used when the movement comes from exactly the object in which you are not. That is, you stand near the wall, and then go away from it. Stand next to the store and walk away from it. 

• He was driving from the hospital. 
• My parents are walking from the park. 

 

Into  

We put something into a box, we go into the store, into the building, that is, we move inside. The preposition differs from the usual in precisely in that there is a movement, while in will be used with what is already inside. 

• Please put the books into this box.  
• You need to come into the train if you don’t want to be late.  

 

Out of 

Did you put clean dishes in the closet? Now let's take it out of there. We use a preposition to say that we are moving from within something. From the mall, bus or cafe. 

• My mom said me to run out of the house. 
• Chris goes out of his room every time his wi-fi doesn’t work properly.  

 

Onto  

We climb a mountain, or we jump onto a huge rock. That is, we are moving on the surface of something, and not inside it. 

• He climbed onto a hill very quickly. 
• She jumped onto that bench.  

 

Off  

Did you hang a picture? Now let's take it off the wall. Or jump off the bridge into the water. Or… 

• The picture fell off the wall two days ago.  
• Jenny just jumped off that bench like if she was a kangaroo.  

Note that the prepositions off and from can be used together for greater effect. Also, do not confuse the use of this preposition with phrasal verbs, since here it acts as a preposition of direction, and other verbs will be given additional meaning.