Intermediate Grammar – Prepositions of movement

Welcome!

The following lesson is for intermediate students. If you are not sure of your English level, take our test!

You can find all this information, plus speaking, writing, vocabulary exercises and more on the ABA English Course Unit 78 – Two Friends.

Most English prepositions have several different functions. Also, different prepositions can have very similar uses. Often, the correct preposition cannot be guessed and you will just have to learn them a few at a time.

For fun and effective ideas on how to learn prepositions, check this post out.

Prepositions of movement: to and from

We use “to” to indicate a destination.

For example: 

“Bernard is travelling to Spain by plane”

We use “from” to indicate the place or direction from which somebody or something starts.

For example: 

“Is he leaving from here?”

Prepositions of movement: into, in and out of

Be careful: there is a difference between “in” and “into” even if at firs they seem the same. “In” refers to a location or a position whereas “into” indicates movement.

For example:

“The strawberries are in the fridge”

“She was getting out of the car and into the hotel”

If you observe the example above, you’ll also see the prepositions “out of”. “Out of” also indicates movement and is used when you leave a place.

For example:

“I was coming out of the restaurant when I saw Olivier”

Prepositions of movement: on and off

If someone, or something, is on a surface or object, the surface or object is  immediately below them, and supporting their weight. “Off” is the opposite of “on”. When something is taken off something else, it is no longer on it.

For example:

“Take your shoes off and put them on the floor”

Prepositions of movement: up and down

If someone, or something, goes “up”, they move away from the ground or to a higher position and if someone, or something, goes “down”, they go towards the ground or to a lower level.

For example:

“Linda always goes up the stairs and comes down in the lift. This way she is always fit and healthy!”

Prepositions of movement: over and under

If one thing is “over” another thing, it means that it is in a position above or higher than it.

For example:

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are now flying over the Alps”

And “under” is the opposite of “over”. If you go “under” something, you move to a lower positions or place with respect to something else that would be over you.

For example:

“The little boy was hiding under the table”

Prepositions of movement: through and across

To move “across” something means to go from one side of a place or boundary to another. To move “through” something means to move from one side to another side, whilst remaining inside it.

For example:

“Every Sunday, we walk across the bridge and through the park”

Prepositions of movement: along, round and past

If you move or look “along” something, such as a road, you move or look towards the end of it. To move “round” a place means to go along its edge in a circular direction. And finally, to move “past” a place, it means it is beyond or further than that place.

For example:

“You will need to drive along this road, round the stadium and past the hospital”

Unit 78 – Two Friends

Well done! You just revised the grammar from Unit 78!

In Unit 78 – Two Friends, you will meet Victor and Mike. Find out how complicated it is to get to Victor’s new flat!

By watching ABA Films, you will practice your listening comprehension. Record your voice and compare phrases to improve your pronunciation and gain fluency by interpreting different roles. You will also learn new vocabulary and review the unit’s grammar lesson.