The movement set: into/out of, onto/off, across, through, along, past, over, under, up/down - one verb, many paths
I can draw movement paths with the right prepositions while keeping verbs simple.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
The cat strolled into the kitchen, jumped onto the counter and knocked the keys off it.
The cat strolled into the kitchen, jumped onto the counter and knocked the keys off it.
We walked along the river, through the old gate and past the lighthouse.
We walked along the river, through the old gate and past the lighthouse.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
The preposition draws the path:
| Path | Pair | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in/out | into / out of | walk into the room, run out of the house |
| surface | onto / off | jump onto the table, fall off the wall |
| side to side | across | swim across the river |
| inside a space | through | walk through the park |
| following a line | along | cycle along the coast |
| by an object | past | drive past the church |
English packs the path into the preposition while the verb stays simple: walk in, walk out, walk across, walk past.
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Practice Exercisesin/into confused
Movement → into; position → in
Path pairs broken
into↔out of, onto↔off, up↔down
The cat strolled into the kitchen, jumped onto the counter and knocked the keys off it.
The cat strolled into the kitchen, jumped onto the counter and knocked the keys off it.
into / onto / off: three paths, one cat.
We walked along the river, through the old gate and past the lighthouse.
We walked along the river, through the old gate and past the lighthouse.
along / through / past in one walk.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises