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.

  • Example: "She walked to the conference room."

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

  • Example: "He stepped into the elevator."

• Onto: Describes movement towards a surface.

  • Example: "Place the files onto the desk."

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

  • Example: "The manager walked through the office."

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

  • Example: "They walked across the street."

• Over: Suggests movement above something.

  • Example: "The plane flew over the city."

• Under: Describes movement beneath something.

  • Example: "The cat crawled under the table."

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

  • 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: "Put the book on the table."

  • Correct: "Put the book 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 to reach the meeting room."

• 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.