Prepositions of direction are few in number but they are also important to
note.
They include those found below and are best learned and
understoodin 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.
AROUND = in a circular direction
I've drivenaround this neighborhood three times and I
still can’t find their house.
AT = in
the (general) direction of
The little boy threw a stoneat the little girl.
AWAY FROM = leaving a place, a person or an object
She ranaway
from home when she was sixteen.
DOWN =
descending motion
Raindrops randown the windscreen making it difficult to
see the road.
DOWN TO = descending motion expressing a final destination
The child felldown
to the ground.
FOR =
having the view or destination of
The Israelites set outfor The Promised Land when they left Egypt.
INTO= a destination within something
The frightened deer disappearedinto the forest.
ONTO= a destination on something
He put the plateonto the table and began to eat his
dinner.
OUT OF = a destination outside of something
He ranout of the room as if he were on fire.
TO = in
the specific direction of
To the hospital, please. And hurry!
This is an emergency. Could you give this DVDto Jill, please?
TOWARDS = in the general direction of
We were drivingtowards the city center when we had an
accident.
UP =
ascending, in a general motion
The smoke from the fire wentup into the sky.
UP TO =
ascending, expressing specific destination
You'll be able to reach the cat if you climbup to the top of the tree.
Set phrases for Prepositions of Direction
He couldn't wait for his vacation to getaway from it all. The cost of a new car brought himdown
to earth. When situations worsen we say we go fromout
of the frying pan,into the fire.
** Special Note
**
When you shout at someone. (You are angry)
When you shout to someone. (You want to attract their attention.)
You throw the ball at someone. (You want to hit them with the ball.)
You throw the ball to someone. (You want them to have it, you give it to them.)
Prepositions of Direction Exercise
Choose from the drop down menu the preposition(s) that best complete the sentences below.
