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Prepositions of Direction
What is a preposition of direction?
A preposition of direction is a preposition used to denote the direction in which something moves or travels, either specifically or generally. They come before a noun or pronoun, and are usually accompanied by a verb of motion.
It answers the question, “WHERE?” or “TO WHERE?”
What are some examples of prepositions of direction?
Prepositions of direction can sometimes be confusing, so use the following chart to help with their specific meanings.
| Preposition of Direction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| above | higher than an object | The box is on the shelf above the bikes. |
| across | on the other side of | She’s across the room from me. |
| along | beside | We rowed along the riverbank. |
| among | within | Look at the black duck among the white swans. |
| around | in a circular direction | She rode around the tree. |
| at | a specific point | We met at the library. |
| behind | at the back of | They left the boxes behind the house. |
| below | lower than an object | My locker is below Karen’s. |
| beside | next to | He sat beside his sister on the couch. |
| between | space separating two things | I put the orange paint between the red and the yellow. |
| by | near | We had a picnic by the pond. |
| close to | near | The dog is close to the door. |
| down | high to low | We coasted down the hill on our bikes. |
| in | surrounded by or through | We went in the door. |
| into | moving inside something | I put the flour into the container. |
| inside | within | The sculptures inside the museum are best. |
| near | close by | Grab me the spoon near the stove. |
| on | touching something from above | Sit the bowl down on the table. |
| onto | moving on top of something | We took the exit onto the highway. |
| off | away from | The egg rolled off the counter. |
| over | above | The clouds billowed over the lake. |
| past | on the father side of | He rode right past the red firehouse. |
| through | on or between | We traveled through the tunnel. |
| to | In the direction of | We went to the park. |
| toward | in the direction of | The cat prowled quietly toward the mouse. |
| under | below an object | She put her head under the water. |
| up | low to high | We hiked up the mountain. |
