Prepositions of Movement: Meaning, Examples, Worksheets & Tips

When you speak or write in English, it’s not enough to only describe where something is. You often need to explain how it moves from one place to another. That’s where prepositions of movement become important.

For example:

• Saying “The ball is on the table” tells position.

• Saying “The ball rolled onto the table” describes movement.

This small shift in words makes your sentence more vivid and accurate. That’s why mastering prepositions of movement and direction is essential for learners of all ages.

What are Prepositions of Movement?

A preposition of movement is a grammar tool that shows the direction, path, or destination of an action. Unlike static prepositions of place, these indicate action in progress or change in position.

• Prepositions of place: “The boy is in the room.”

• Prepositions of movement: “The boy walked into the room.”

So the difference lies in the motion implied by the preposition.

Extended List of Prepositions of Movement with Examples

Here’s a comprehensive list of prepositions of movement you’ll often use:

Into

• She went into the house.

• He threw the ball into the basket.

Onto

• He climbed onto the roof.

• The child jumped onto the sofa.

To

• We are going to the library.

• He delivered the letter to her.

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Toward / Towards

• She walked toward the bus stop.

• He ran towards the playground.

Through

• The train went through the tunnel.

• Light passes through the glass.

Across

• He ran across the road.

• She swam across the pool.

Over

• The cat jumped over the wall.

• The plane flew over the city.

Under

• The boy crawled under the table.

• The river flows under the bridge.

Along

• They strolled along the beach.

• The car drove along the highway.

Up / Down

• She climbed up the mountain.

• He ran down the stairs.

Around

• The dog ran around the yard.

• The car drove around the corner.

Onto vs. On (Key Difference)

• Place: “The book is on the desk.”

• Movement: “She put the book onto the desk.”

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Categories of Prepositions of Movement

To make it clearer, let’s divide prepositions of movement into categories:

1. Prepositions showing direction toward a place

   • To, Towards, Into, Onto

2. Prepositions showing movement through a place

   • Across, Through, Along

3. Prepositions showing movement over/under something

   • Over, Under, Down, Up

4. Prepositions showing circular or surrounding movement

   • Around, Past, Along

Prepositions of Movement in Storytelling

Writers often use prepositions of movement to make their descriptions dynamic. Compare these two short passages:

• Without prepositions of movement:
  The boy was in the park. The dog was by the bench.

• With prepositions of movement:
  The boy ran across the park while the dog jumped onto the bench.

See how the second version feels more alive? That’s the power of these prepositions.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Movement

Students often confuse prepositions of movement with place prepositions. Here are a few common errors:

• ❌ He is going in the bus.

• ✅ He is going onto the bus.

• ❌ She walked in the classroom.

• ✅ She walked into the classroom.

• ❌ The cat jumped in the table.

• ✅ The cat jumped onto the table.

Prepositions of Movement vs. Prepositions of Direction

While both are close, here’s the distinction:

• Prepositions of movement = show the action of moving (into, onto, across).

• Prepositions of direction = show the aim or destination of the movement (to, towards).

Example:

• She is going to the park. (direction)

• She ran into the park. (movement)

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Prepositions of Place and Movement Compared

Here’s a quick table to simplify learning:

Preposition of Movement Examples in Daily Life

To reinforce learning, here are 10 daily-life examples:

1. The teacher walked into the classroom.

2. The children ran across the playground.

3. The airplane flew over the mountains.

4. The boy slid down the slide.

5. The bus went through the tunnel.

6. The kids climbed up the tree.

7. The ball rolled into the corner.

8. The puppy ran around the garden.

9. The family walked along the river.

10. The crowd moved towards the stadium.

Preposition of Movement Worksheets

Practice is the key to mastering grammar. Try these worksheets:

Worksheet 1: Fill in the blanks

1. The cat jumped ___ the chair.

2. They walked ___ the road.

3. He went ___ the tunnel.

4. The ball rolled ___ the floor.

(Answers: onto, across, through, along)

Worksheet 2: Correct the mistake

• ❌ The bird flew in the house.

• ✅ The bird flew into the house.

• ❌ He climbed in the bus.

• ✅ He climbed onto the bus.

Worksheet 3: Choose the correct preposition

1. She ran (into/on) the room.

2. He walked (towards/onto) the park.

3. The ball went (over/at) the fence.

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Prepositions of Movement Exercises

Test your skills with these exercises:

1. Write five sentences using into and onto.

2. Describe your walk to school using at least five different prepositions of movement.

3. Rewrite this sentence with a movement preposition:
   He is in the room. → He went into the room.

Fun Activities for Kids to Learn Prepositions of Movement

• Drawing activity: Kids draw arrows to show movement across, into, onto objects.

• Role play: Act out sentences like “Jump onto the chair” or “Run across the room.”

• Story writing: Ask children to write a short story using at least 5 prepositions of movement.

Prepositions of Movement in Spoken English

In conversations, these prepositions make directions clear. For example:

• “Go across the road and walk towards the bank.”

• “Climb up the stairs and turn into the hallway.”

Using them naturally makes your spoken English more effective.

Advanced Usage: Idiomatic Expressions

Some idiomatic phrases also use prepositions of movement:

• “Go over the details” (not physical, but metaphorical movement)

• “Run through the notes”

• “Walk into trouble”

This shows prepositions of movement can be used beyond physical motion.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are prepositions of movement?
Prepositions of movement are words that show motion or direction from one place to another, such as into, onto, across, and through.

Q2. What is the difference between prepositions of place and prepositions of movement?
Prepositions of place show position (in, on, under), while prepositions of movement show direction or action (into, onto, over).

Q3. Can you give 5 prepositions of movement examples?
Yes. Examples include into, onto, across, over, and through.

Q4. How can I practice prepositions of movement?
You can practice with worksheets, exercises, and by writing sentences that use different prepositions of movement.

Q5. Why are prepositions of movement important for kids?
They help children describe actions and directions clearly, improving both writing and spoken English.

Q6. What is the easiest way to teach kids prepositions of movement?
Using visuals, arrows, role plays, and worksheets makes learning engaging and fun for kids.

Q7. Can a preposition be both of place and movement?
Yes. Words like “on/onto” or “in/into” work differently depending on whether they show position or action.

Q8. Are prepositions of movement and direction the same?
Not exactly. Prepositions of movement show action (into, across), while prepositions of direction show aim or destination (to, towards).

Q9. How many prepositions of movement are there in English?
There isn’t a fixed number, but the most common ones include into, onto, across, through, along, over, under, up, down, to, and toward.