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Unit 126 · Prepositions

to, at, in and into

Study

A

We say go/come/travel (etc.) to a place or event. For example:

go to China go to work come to my house
go back to Italy go to the bank drive to the airport
return to London go to a party be taken to hospital
›

When are your friends going back to Italy? (not going back in Italy)

›

Three people were injured in the accident and taken to hospital.

In the same way we say Welcome to … , a trip to … , a visit to … , on my way to … etc. :

›

Welcome to our country! (not Welcome in)

›

We had to cancel our trip to Paris.

Compare to (for movement) and in/at (for position):

›

They are going to France. but They live in France.

›

Can you come to the party? but I’ll see you at the party.

We say '(I’ve) been to' a place or an event:

›

I’ve been to Italy four times, but I’ve never been to Rome.

›

Amanda has never been to a football match in her life.

B

We say get to a place:

›

They got to the hotel at midnight.

›

What time did you get to the party?

We say arrive in … or arrive at … (not arrive to).

We say arrive in a town or country:

›

They arrived in Madrid / in Spain a week ago.

For other places (buildings etc.) or events, we say arrive at:

›

What time did you arrive at the hotel / at the airport / at the party?

C

We say: go home, come home, get home, arrive home, on the way home etc. (no preposition).

We do not say 'to home':

›

What time did you get home? (not get to home)

›

I met Lisa on my way home.

D

go into, get into … etc. = enter (a room / a building / a car etc.):

›

I opened the door, went into the room and sat down.

›

A bird flew into the kitchen through the window.

›

Every month my salary is paid directly into my bank account.

With some verbs (especially go/get/put) we often use in (instead of into):

›

She got in the car and drove away. or She got into the car …

›

I read the letter and put it back in the envelope.

The opposite of into is out of:

›

She got out of the car and went into a shop.

For buses, trains and planes, we usually say get on and get off:

›

She got on the bus and I never saw her again.

›

You need to get off (the train) at the next station.

→ Been to → Units 7–8 · In/at/on (position) → Units 123–125 · At home → Unit 125A · Into and in → Unit 138A

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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126.1

Put in to/at/in/into where necessary. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty.

  1. 1
    Three people were taken hospital after the accident.example
  2. 2
    I’m tired. Let’s go home now. (no preposition)
  3. 3
    We left our luggage the station and went to find something to eat.
  4. 4
    Shall we take a taxi the station or shall we walk?
  5. 5
    I have to go the bank today. What time does it open?
  6. 6
    The Amazon flows the Atlantic Ocean.
  7. 7
    I missed the bus, so I walked home.
  8. 8
    Have you ever been Canada?
  9. 9
    I lost my key, but I managed to climb the house through a window.
  10. 10
    We got stuck in a traffic jam on our way the airport.
  11. 11
    We had lunch the airport while we were waiting for our plane.
  12. 12
    It took us four hours to get the top of the mountain.
  13. 13
    Welcome the hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay here.
  14. 14
    We drove along the main road and then turned a narrow side street.
  15. 15
    Did you enjoy your visit the zoo?
  16. 16
    I did some shopping on my way home.
  17. 17
    Marcel is French. He has just returned France after two years Brazil.
  18. 18
    Carl was born Chicago, but his family moved Boston when he was three.
126.2

Write sentences about places you have been to. Use I’ve been to / I’ve never been to + the words in brackets.

  1. 1
    (never) example
  2. 2
    (once)
  3. 3
    (never)
  4. 4
    (a few times)
  5. 5
    (many times)
126.3

Put in to/at/in where necessary. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty.

  1. 1
    What time does this train get London?example
  2. 2
    They arrived Barcelona a few days ago.
  3. 3
    What time did you get home last night?
  4. 4
    What time do you usually arrive work in the morning?
  5. 5
    When we got the cinema, there was a long queue outside.
  6. 6
    We were delayed and arrived home very late.
126.4

Write sentences using got + into / out of / on / off.

  1. 1
    You were walking home. A friend passed you in her car. She saw you, stopped and offered you a lift. She opened the door. What did you do?
    I the car.example
  2. 2
    You were waiting at the bus stop. At last your bus came and stopped. The doors opened. What did you do then?
    I the bus.
  3. 3
    You drove home in your car. You stopped outside your house and parked the car. What did you do then?
    I .
  4. 4
    You were travelling by train to Manchester. When the train got to Manchester, what did you do?
    I .
  5. 5
    You needed a taxi. After a few minutes a taxi stopped for you. You opened the door. What did you do then?
    I .
  6. 6
    You were travelling by plane. At the end of your flight, your plane landed at the airport and stopped. The doors were opened, you took your bag and stood up. What did you do then?
    I .