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Master English Grammar

Prepositions of Movement – To, Into, Out Of, Onto

Learn how to use prepositions of movement such as to, into, out of, and onto to describe direction and movement.

What Are Prepositions of Movement?

Prepositions of movement describe the direction of an action or movement. The most common ones include to, into, out of, and onto.

Why Is This Important?

Using the correct preposition of movement helps you describe direction and movement clearly in English.

Key Points

  • Use 'to' for movement towards a specific place
    • She is going to the store.
    • They walked to the park.
  • Use 'into' for movement from outside to inside
    • He went into the room.
    • The cat jumped into the box.
  • Use 'out of' for movement from inside to outside
    • She ran out of the house.
    • They got out of the car.
  • Use 'onto' for movement from a lower to a higher position
    • The dog jumped onto the couch.
    • He climbed onto the roof.

Rules for Using Prepositions of Movement

  • Use 'to' when indicating movement toward a destination.

    • We are driving to the city.
    • She is going to school.

  • Use 'into' for movement from outside to inside.

    • He walked into the building.
    • They ran into the room.

  • Use 'out of' for movement from inside to outside.

    • She ran out of the house.
    • He stepped out of the car.

  • Use 'onto' for movement from a lower to a higher surface.

    • The cat jumped onto the table.
    • She climbed onto the horse.

  • Special Cases & Exceptions:

    Some prepositions of movement can overlap in meaning depending on context.

  • Be careful with 'onto' and 'on'.

    • Incorrect: He jumped on the table (when describing movement).
    • Correct: He jumped onto the table.
ExampleTenseUse
She is going to the store.ToMovement toward a place
He went into the house.IntoMovement from outside to inside
They ran out of the building.Out OfMovement from inside to outside
She climbed onto the roof.OntoMovement to a higher surface

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.