Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction are few in number but they are also important to note. They include the following and are best learned and understood in context.

Study the examples below carefully and then do the exercise that follows. You can check your answers to see how well you know these prepositions of direction.

v  AROUND = in a circular direction.

-          I've driven around this neighborhood three times and I still can’t find their house.

v  AT = in the (general) direction of.

-          The little boy threw a stone at the little girl.

v  AWAY FROM = leaving a place, a person or an object.

-          She ran away from home when she was sixteen.

v  DOWN = descending motion.

-          Raindrops ran down the windscreen making it difficult to see the road.

v  DOWN TO = descending motion expressing a final destination.

-          The child fell down to the ground.

v  FOR = having the view or destination of.

-          The Israelites set out for The Promised Land when they left Egypt.

v  INTO = a destination within something.

-          The frightened deer disappeared into the forest.

v  ONTO = a destination on something.

-          He put the plate onto the table and began to eat his dinner.

v  OUT OF = a destination outside of something.

-          He ran out of the room as if he were on fire.

v  TO = in the specific direction of.

-          To the hospital, please. And hurry! This is an emergency.

-          Could you give this DVD to Jill, please?

v  TOWARDS = in the general direction of.

-          We were driving towards the city center when we had an accident.

v  UP = ascending, in a general motion .

-          The smoke from the fire went up into the sky.

v  UP TO = ascending, expressing specific destination.

-          You'll be able to reach the cat if you climb up to the top of the tree.