Prepositions of movement

Introduction

Prepositions of movement are words that describe the direction of an action. They are essential for the TOEIC test, especially in the Listening and Reading sections, where understanding precise directions and movements is crucial. Mastering these prepositions will help you follow instructions and understand descriptions better.

Explanation

Prepositions of movement include words like "to," "into," "onto," "through," "across," "over," "under," and "along." They indicate the direction in which something or someone is moving.

• To: Indicates movement towards a specific destination.

  • For example: "She walked to the conference room."

• Into: Suggests movement from outside to a point inside.

  • For example: "He stepped into the elevator."

• Onto: Describes movement towards a surface.

  • For example: "Place the files onto the desk."

• Through: Implies movement from one side to another within something.

  • For example: "The manager walked through the office."

• Across: Indicates movement from one side to the other side.

  • For example: "They walked across the street."

• Over: Suggests movement above something.

  • For example: "The plane flew over the city."

• Under: Describes movement beneath something.

  • For example: "The cat crawled under the table."

• Along: Indicates movement in a line, often parallel to something.

  • For example: "They strolled along the river."

Common mistakes

• Confusing "into" and "in": "Into" is used for movement, while "in" is used for position.

  • Incorrect: "She went in the room."

  • Correct: "She went into the room."

• Mixing up "onto" and "on": "Onto" is for movement, "on" is for position.

  • Incorrect: "The cat jumped on the table." (if emphasizing movement)

    Correct: "The cat jumped onto the table."

Tips for the TOEIC test

• Pay attention to the context: Prepositions of movement often appear in instructions or descriptions in the Listening section. Visualize the movement as you listen.

• In the Reading section, look for clues in the surrounding text that indicate movement or direction.

Mini practice

• Fill in the blank: "The CEO walked ______ the hallway, passing several offices on both sides."

• Choose the correct preposition: "Please place the documents ______ the shelf." (into/onto)

• Rephrase the sentence: "The delivery truck drove over the bridge."

Answers:

• along

• onto

• The delivery truck crossed the bridge.