Lesson 12: Prepositions of Place & Movement — In, On, At, Along, Into (A1)
A1⏱ 5 min
Prepositions of Place & Movement
By Sourov Deb — Cambridge CELTA course completed — 120 supervised teaching hours and four written assignments validated to the required standard.
When I arrived in Sydney in 2005, I didn’t know the streets at all.
I walked along George Street, turned into a side street,
and ended up in a park I’d never seen before.
Getting lost taught me more prepositions than any textbook!
I walked along George Street, turned into a side street,
and ended up in a park I’d never seen before.
Getting lost taught me more prepositions than any textbook!
🎯 Aim: Use prepositions of place (in, on, at, next to, between…) and movement (into, out of, along, through, past…) to describe location and direction.
Prepositions of Place
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | inside an area/container | I live in Sydney. |
| on | on a surface / on a street | The café is on George Street. |
| at | a specific point/address | Meet me at the corner. |
| next to | beside | The park is next to the library. |
| between | in the middle of two things | The bank is between the post office and the supermarket. |
| opposite | facing | The hotel is opposite the station. |
Prepositions of Movement
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| into | entering a place | I walked into the shop. |
| out of | leaving a place | She came out of the office. |
| along | following a line/street | We walked along the beach. |
| through | going inside & out the other side | Drive through the tunnel. |
| past | going by something | Turn left just past the pharmacy. |
| towards | in the direction of | Walk towards the harbour. |
Examples in Context
- The bookshop is on the left, opposite the bank.
- I walked along the river, then turned into a quiet lane.
- There is a market between the station and the park.
- She lives at 12 Bridge Road, next to a school.
- Go through the gate and you’ll see the garden.
Practice Task
Fill in the blank with the correct preposition.
- The supermarket is _____ the corner of High Street and Park Road. (at / on / in)
- He walked _____ the tunnel and reached the other side. (through / along / past)
- The school is _____ the hospital and the fire station. (between / opposite / next to)
- Turn left and walk _____ the river for 200 metres. (towards / along / into)
- She came _____ the building looking very happy. (out of / into / through)
Show Answers
- on the corner (also “at” is acceptable)
- through the tunnel
- between the hospital and the fire station
- along the river
- out of the building
💡 Takeaway: Use in/on/at for position. Use into/out of/along/through/past for movement. Learning them in context (like navigating a new city!) helps them stick.
Independent project. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.