How are referral prepositions used in English?

Prepositions in sentences connect the noun (or pronoun) with other words. Almost all English prepositions can be translated differently depending on the context. Each of them has special rules of use and indicates a place, time or direction. In this article we will consider the prepositions of the direction in the English language.

Prepositions of direction. Table

These prepositions express the peculiarity of the movement of the face or object, its trajectory.

Prepositions of direction in English. Examples

When you need to go to the other side of the road, streets or squares in the sentence use the preposition across (through). For instance:

1. The dog ran across the field to me. The dog ran across the field to me.
2. Meth was waiting for the green light to go across the street. Mat was waiting for the green light to cross the street.

The word along (translation - along) is used to describe the movement along any object. For instance:

1. The excursion path was held along the beautiful river. A guided trail ran along a beautiful river.
2. All the boxes were laid out along the wall. All boxes were laid out along the wall.

The preposition around means movement in a circle. For instance:

1. Puppies chased each other around the house. Puppies chasing each other around the house.
2. A beautiful fence was put around the school. Around the school put a beautiful fence.

The preposition down (translation - down) indicates that the movement is going down. For instance:

1. Our group went down to the foot of the mountain. Our group went down to the foot of the mountain.
2. The Elevator slowly went down to the 1st floor. The elevator slowly went down to the first floor.

The word from (from) indicates the distance from point A to point B or the place where the movement began. For instance:

1. We went from Monte Carlo early in the morning. We left Monte Carlo early in the morning.
2. The plane is heading from Vladivostok to Ufa. The plane is heading from Vladivostok to Ufa.

The preposition into (translation - inside) tells about the action directed inside the object. The word into implies a complete immersion in some object, it is used when the fact of moving inside the object is important. This excuse should not be confused with to! For instance:

1. I put the berries into a little basket. I put the berries in a small basket.
2. We ran into the house to hide from the rain. We ran into the house to hide from the rain.

The words out of and away from (inside, out) are similar in meaning and tell about the appearance of an object or face from somewhere inside. The pretext out of tells about extracting an item from something, and away from indicates leaving some place. For instance:

1. A small fawn ran away from the forest. A small deer ran out of the forest.
2. I took the cookies out of the box. I took a cookie out of the box.

The prepositions over and above (translation - over) are also close in meaning. The only difference is that over can describe movement in different planes, and above can describe only one. For instance:

1. Our airplane flew above the forest. Our airplane flew over the forest.
2. Butterflies fluttered over the blossoming flowers. Butterflies fluttered over blooming flowers.

The word through expresses movement through something. For instance:

1. The streetlight came through the curtains. Through the curtains the light of a street lamp was breaking through.
2. We drove through a long tunnel. We drove through a long tunnel.

The most common pretext for a direction is to (translated - k, c). It is used in conversations about routine, everyday activities, upcoming changes. For instance:

1. I bought three plane tickets to Prague. I bought three plane tickets to Prague.
2. Today we went to Marie's birthday party. Today we went to Marie's birthday.

The prepositions under and below are similar in meaning, they mean actions that are performed under the object. Only under describes the direction in one plane, and below - in different planes. For instance:

1. The hare jumped below my trailer. The hare jumped under my trailer.
2. My dog ​​crawled under the bed. My dog ​​climbed under the bed.

The word up (translated - up) denotes an upward movement. For instance:

1. The road went up. The road has gone up.
2. We ran up the path. We ran up the path.

English and Russian prepositions. Difference in use

In English grammar, nouns do not have case endings, therefore words in sentences are connected only thanks to prepositions. In Russian, on the contrary, words are connected with each other by case endings. Compare one sentence in Russian and in English:

1. Send this letter to the courier. In this example, no prepositions are required; the endings in the corresponding case transmit the connection.
2. Give this letter to the courier. In the English sentence, the connection is indicated by the preposition to. When translating such statements into Russian, prepositions are usually omitted.

There is another difference in the way the prepositions of the direction are used in English and in Russian. When in the Russian sentence after some verbs a preposition is needed, in English, on the contrary, it is not put. For instance:

1. Enter the room. Enter the room.
2. Leave work. Leave the job.

Exercises on the prepositions of directions in English

To consolidate the material, train and do some exercises.

Exercise number 1. Translate the sentences.

1. Our route passed through the reserve.
2. The turtle crawled slowly across the road.
3. A hamster suddenly ran out of a mink.
4. There was a loud barking from the alley.
5. I put a thick notebook into my bags.

Exercise number 2. Translate, correctly arrange the prepositions of direction.

1. I walked ... the road for a long time.
2. A flock of pigeons flew ... us.
3. Marcus climbed ... the hill.
4. Mom put my notebooks ... the drawer.
5. My brother and I are going ... grandma.

Exercise number 3. Translate to English.

1. Mike and I dream of traveling around the world.
2. Our boat sailed down the river.
3. The stop was far from home.
4. Stones were visible through the water.
5. I hid the ring under a paper towel.

The answers

Check if you have completed the assignments on the topic “Prepositions of directions in English”.

Exercise number 1:

1. Our route passed through the reserve.
2. The turtle slowly crawled across the road.
3. The hamster suddenly ran out of the mink.
4. A loud barking came from the alley.
5. I put a thick notebook in my bag.

Exercise number 2:

1. I walked along the road for a long time (along).
2. A flock of pigeons flew over us.
3. Marcus climbed the hill (up).
4. Mom put my notebooks in a drawer (into).
5. My brother and I go to grandma (to).

Exercise number 3:

1. Mike and I dream of traveling around the world.
2. Our boat was heading down the river.
3. The stop was far from home.
4. You could see rocks through the water.
5. I hid the ring under a paper napkin.

To study the prepositions of direction in English, you need not only to memorize them, but also to be able to use them correctly in everyday speech. Through constant practice and repetition, this can be achieved. It will be easy for you to understand and remember everything!