Towards, Away From, and Past — English Grammar Exercises
Into, onto, off, along, across and more — master movement prepositions
Towards, Away From, and Past: Direction Without Arrival
The to/towards distinction is a productive source of errors because learners use 'to' as a general-purpose movement preposition — even when the sentence explicitly states that the destination was not reached. Cambridge B2 First marking guidelines identify 'to' incorrectly used instead of 'towards' as a recurring error in candidates who otherwise show strong grammar control. The past/near confusion is equally systematic: 'near' describes proximity (a static relationship), while 'past' describes movement beyond a point.
Towards — Direction Without Guaranteed Arrival
Use towards when movement is in the direction of something but the sentence does not confirm arrival — especially with verbs of motion followed by a contrast:
The car was coming towards us at high speed.
She walked towards the exit but stopped to talk to a friend.
Away From — Increasing Distance
Use away from when movement goes in the opposite direction from a point, increasing the distance:
The crowd moved away from the stage after the concert ended.
Past — Moving Beyond a Point Without Stopping
Use past when movement continues beyond a reference point without stopping there:
We drove past the old factory without stopping.
Common Mistakes
✗ The dog ran to me but stopped halfway. → ✓ The dog ran towards me but stopped halfway.
✗ We drove near the old factory without stopping. → ✓ We drove past the old factory without stopping.
✗ She walked to the exit but stopped. → ✓ She walked towards the exit but stopped.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'in' and 'into'?
'In' describes where something already is (static location): 'She is in the kitchen.' 'Into' describes movement from outside a space to inside it: 'She walked into the kitchen.' The key test is whether the sentence describes arrival or presence. Common fixed collocations: get into a car/taxi, walk into a room, jump into a pool, step into an elevator.
What is the difference between 'on' and 'onto', and between 'from' and 'off'?
'On' is static — it describes where something already rests: 'The book is on the table.' 'Onto' describes movement from one level to a surface: 'The cat jumped onto the table.' For leaving a surface, English uses 'off', not 'from': 'The book fell off the table' (not 'from the table'). 'From' describes origin or starting point, not the act of leaving a surface.
When do I use 'through' and when 'across' or 'over'?
'Through' describes movement inside a three-dimensional enclosed space from one end to the other: 'through a tunnel', 'through a forest', 'through a gap'. 'Across' describes movement from one side to the other of a flat or open surface: 'across the road', 'across the bridge', 'across the pool'. 'Over' describes movement in an arc above an obstacle: 'over the fence', 'over the hedge', 'over the mountains'. The bridge test: you go across a bridge (surface) but through a tunnel (enclosed space).
What is the difference between 'to' and 'towards'?
'To' implies reaching the destination: 'She went to the station' (she arrived). 'Towards' describes movement in a direction without necessarily arriving: 'She walked towards the station but stopped halfway.' If the sentence has a contrast word like 'but stopped', 'but changed her mind', or 'but didn't arrive', use 'towards'. Also: 'past' means moving beyond a point without stopping — 'She walked past the shop without going in.'