Grammar
Prepositions of movement: into, through, across, and toward
A cyclist can ride along a river, across a bridge, through a tunnel, and into a car park. The route changes at each point, so the preposition changes too.
Choose a preposition that shows a person or thing entering, crossing, passing, leaving, or moving in a direction.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
through the tunnel /θruː ðə ˈtʌn.əl/
The short answer
Use into for movement from outside to inside, through for movement within and out of an enclosed space, across for movement from one side to another, and toward for direction without saying that the destination is reached.
The children ran into the playground when the gate opened.
Why it works: Into shows movement from outside the playground to a position inside it.
5 more examples
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The puppy ran into the kitchen when it heard the bowl.
The puppy moves from outside the kitchen to a position inside it.
Not this:The puppy ran
in the kitchenwhen it heard the bowl. What changes: This says where the running happened. It does not clearly describe entering the kitchen. -
We walked through the market before breakfast.
The route went within the market and continued through its space.
Not this:We walked
past the marketbefore breakfast. What changes: This means the walkers went beyond the market without saying that they entered it. -
Nadia cycled across the bridge before the rain began.
Across presents the bridge as a route from one side to the other.
Not this:Nadia cycled
along the bridgebefore the rain began. What changes: Along focuses on following the length of the bridge and does not state that she reached the other side. -
The visitors moved toward the exit when the bell rang.
Toward tells us the direction of movement but does not confirm that the visitors arrived.
Not this:The visitors moved
to the exitwhen the bell rang. What changes: To presents the exit as the destination and more strongly suggests that they reached it. -
A gust of wind blew the papers out of the open window.
Out of shows movement from inside the room to the outside.
Not this:A gust of wind blew the papers
toward the open window. What changes: Toward only gives the direction; the papers may not have passed through the window.
Read the full guide
Start with the path. A person can move to a station, walk through the station, leave the station, or pass the station. Each phrase adds a different part of the journey. Drawing a quick line in your mind can make the choice clearer.
Read the route as a sequence
Movement prepositions explain the relationship between a route and a place. First find the moving verb. Then ask whether the motion crosses a boundary, stays inside a space for part of the route, follows a line, or simply points in a direction.
The train passed through the valley before noon.
Through makes the valley part of the route. To the valley would name the destination instead.
A runner enters a stadium from the street. Which preposition shows the boundary crossing?
Use into: The runner ran into the stadium.
Use into and out of for a boundary
Use into when movement crosses from outside to inside. Use out of when movement crosses from inside to outside. These phrases usually matter because they tell the listener which side of a boundary the movement starts from and ends on.
He stepped into the lift just before the doors closed.
She took the letter out of her bag.
Into ends inside the lift. Out of starts inside the bag and ends outside it.
Do not use into for a fixed location. Say The keys are in the drawer, but The keys fell into the drawer.
Use through and across for different paths
Use through when the movement passes within a space, opening, or group of things. Use across when the route crosses a surface, area, or line from one side to another.
The ambulance drove through the underpass.
We ran across the square to catch the bus.
An underpass has an inside, so through fits. A square is treated as an open area, so across fits.
Which word fits a boat going from one bank of a river to the other?
Use across: The boat travelled across the river.
Use along, toward, and past to locate direction
Along means following the length, side, or edge of something. Toward gives the direction of movement without guaranteeing arrival. Past means continuing beyond a reference point.
They strolled along the canal after dinner.
The child walked toward her father with both hands full.
Keep walking past the pharmacy, then turn left.
Along follows a route, toward points at a possible destination, and past puts the pharmacy behind the walker.
Choose to when the route is not the point
English often uses to when the sentence only needs a destination. Add a movement preposition when the route itself matters. This is why both forms can be correct in different sentences about the same place.
We drove to the harbour for lunch.
We drove along the harbour road for lunch.
The first sentence names a destination. The second sentence tells the listener which route the car followed.
You want to say that someone headed in the direction of a library, but you do not know whether they arrived. Which word fits?
Use toward: They walked toward the library.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose the preposition from the route. Use into to enter, out of to leave, through for movement within an enclosed space, across for a crossing, along for a route beside or following something, toward for direction, and past for movement beyond a point.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Prepositions of movement: into, through, across, and toward"
What is the difference between into and in?
Into describes movement from outside to inside, as in The puppy ran into the kitchen. In describes a position or an action taking place within a space, as in The puppy ran in the kitchen.
The puppy ran into the kitchen when it heard the bowl.
When should I use through instead of across?
Use through when a route passes within an enclosed or surrounding space, such as through a tunnel or forest. Use across when the route crosses an open area or surface, such as across a bridge or square.
The puppy ran in the kitchen when it heard the bowl.
Does toward mean that someone arrives?
No. Toward only shows the direction of movement. The visitors moved toward the exit tells us where they headed, while moved to the exit presents the exit as the destination.
We walked through the market before breakfast.
Can I use to with a place instead of a movement preposition?
Yes, when the route does not matter. We drove to the harbour names the destination. We drove along the harbour road adds information about the route taken to get there.
We walked past the market before breakfast.
What does past mean in directions?
Past means continuing beyond a person, place, or object. If directions say Walk past the pharmacy, the pharmacy will be behind you before you make the next turn.
Nadia cycled across the bridge before the rain began.
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