Use prepositions like into, onto, across, through, and out of to describe how something moves from one place to another, as in he ran into the house or the cat jumped onto the table. None of these prepositions takes of after them except out of.
Grammar Rule
Prepositions of movement describe how something moves from one place to another. None of them takes of after, except out of.
Prepositional Phrases of Movement: Rules and Examples
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| into | entering a space | He ran into the house. |
| onto | getting onto a surface | The cat jumped onto the table. |
| across / through | crossing / moving inside something | She walked across the street. They walked through the tunnel. |
| out of | leaving a space | The dog ran out of the yard. |
Remember: these prepositions of movement never take of after them, except out of.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below choosing the correct preposition of movement. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Prepositional Phrases – Place, Time and Movement (Consolidation)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does into describe?
Into describes entering a space, as in he ran into the house.
What does onto describe?
Onto describes getting onto a surface, as in the cat jumped onto the table.
What is the difference between across and through?
Across describes crossing a flat surface, as in she walked across the street, while through describes moving inside or between something, as in they walked through the tunnel.
Does any of these prepositions take of after them?
Only out of takes of after it, as in the dog ran out of the yard; the others, like into and onto, do not.