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Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement show how something or someone moves from one place to another.

A2Prepositions

What is it

Prepositions of movement are words that show how something or someone moves from one place to another.

  • We use across to show movement from one side to the other, like crossing a street.
  • We use up to show movement upwards, like going up the stairs.
  • We use down to show movement downwards, like going down the stairs.

When to use it

  • We use prepositions of movement to describe how something or someone moves, like a car driving through a tunnel.
  • They help us explain where something is, like a book sitting on a table.
  • We also use them to talk about our daily activities, like going to work or coming from the store.

Examples

  • The car is driving through the city.
  • The bike is moving down the hill.
  • The airplane is flying across the ocean.
  • The people are walking up the stairs.
  • The water is flowing down the river.
  • The train is traveling across the country.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: The car is go in the tunnel. Correct: The car is going through the tunnel.
  • Wrong: The book is sit in the table. Correct: The book is sitting on the table.
  • Wrong: I am come in the store. Correct: I am coming from the store.

Memory tip

A helpful trick to remember prepositions of movement is to think about the direction you are moving, and choose the preposition that best describes it.

Quick check
Which preposition is used to indicate movement into a place?

Where this matters in your exam

In IELTS, prepositions of movement are crucial for clearly describing a process or a map in Writing Task 1, and for explaining ideas in Writing Task 2. They are also used in the speaking section to talk about travels and experiences.

  • Writing Task 1

    To describe how something is made or how something works.

  • Writing Task 2

    To explain how a place or a situation is changing.