English Grammar: Lesson 20 (Part 5) – Prepositions of Direction or Movement

These prepositions indicate a movement in a direction or a specific direction.

• arrive in a city, state, or country
• arrive at a place (restaurant, school, work)
• go to a city, state, country, place
• go from a place

Do not make these common errors:

The word home does not use a preposition with verbs of motion.

• Incorrect:          What time did you return to home?
• Correct:          What time did you return home?

Prepositions in Combination

Prepositions can be used to indicate place, time, and direction. In addition, prepositions can be used with certain nouns, verbs, and adjectives. You need to memorize these combinations and practice them in your writing and conversation.

Prepositions and Nouns

• Some prepositions are used before certain nouns:           in trouble
• Some prepositions are used after certain nouns:              a question about

There is no rule to explain these combinations. You must memorize them.

Preposition + Noun

Noun + Preposition

If you use a verb form after a preposition, the verb must end in -ing. (This form is called a gerund, which is a verb form used as a noun. Here it is an object of the preposition.)

• Incorrect:   Do  you  have any interest in go to the lake with us on Saturday?
• Incorrect:   Do you have any interest in to go to the lake with us on Saturday?
• Correct:    Do you have any interest in going to the lake with us on Saturday?

Prepositions and Verbs

Some prepositions are used after certain verbs: listen to, wait for, complain about

You must memorize these verb and preposition combinations.

• Incorrect:         I complained the homework. (Problem: no preposition)
• Incorrect:         I complained for the homework. (Problem: wrong preposition)
• Correct:           I complained about the homework.

O If you use a verb form after a preposition, the verb must end in -ing. (This form is called a gerund, which is a verb form used as a noun. Here it is an object of the preposition.)

• Incorrect:         I complained about do the homework.
• Correct:           I complained about doing the homework.

Here are some common preposition and verb combinations

Prepositions and Adjectives

Some prepositions are used after certain adjectives: excited about

You must memorize these preposition and adjective combinations.

One of the most common errors is using the preposition for too often.

• Incorrect:         We are happy for the professor’s decision.
• Correct:            We are happy about the professor’s decision.

If you use a verb form after a preposition, the verb must end in -ing. (This form is called a gerund, which is a verb form used as a noun. Here it is an object of the preposition.)

• Incorrect:  We are worried about fly to New York in January.
• Correct:   We are worried about flying to New York in January.