to / at / in / into — Movement & Direction
go to · arrive in/at · been to · home · into · out of · get on/off — Complete Guide
to / at / in / into — Mouvement et Direction
go to · arrive in/at · been to · home · into · out of · get on/off — Guide Complet
Learn when to use to (movement toward), in/at (arrival), into (entering), and when no preposition is needed — including home, get on/off and out of.
Apprenez à utiliser to (mouvement vers), in/at (arrivée), into (entrer dans), et quand aucune préposition n’est nécessaire — y compris home, get on/off et out of.
The prepositions to, at, in and into all involve movement or direction, but each has a distinct role. To indicates movement toward a destination; in/at describe the state of having arrived; into signals entering an enclosed space. Several important expressions — including home, get on/off and out of — follow fixed patterns that must be memorised.
Les prépositions to, at, in et into impliquent toutes un mouvement ou une direction, mais chacune a un rôle distinct. To indique un mouvement vers une destination ; in/at décrivent le fait d’être arrivé ; into signale l’entrée dans un espace fermé. Plusieurs expressions importantes — notamment home, get on/off et out of — suivent des schémas fixes à mémoriser.
go / come / travel TO a place
go / come / travel TO un endroit
Use to with verbs of movement (go, come, travel, return, drive, fly, walk, etc.) to show the destination. We also say been to, trip to, visit to, welcome to, on my way to.
Utilisez to avec les verbes de mouvement (go, come, travel, return, drive, fly, walk, etc.) pour indiquer la destination. On dit aussi been to, trip to, visit to, welcome to, on my way to.
Movement → TO
Mouvement → TO
Fixed expressions with TO
Expressions fixes avec TO
Three people were taken to hospital after the accident.
We had to cancel our trip to Paris.
I’ve been to Italy four times, but I’ve never been to Rome. When are your friends going back to Italy? (PAS going back in Italy)
Three people were taken to hospital after the accident.
We had to cancel our trip to Paris.
I’ve been to Italy four times, but I’ve never been to Rome.
get to · arrive in / arrive at · home (no preposition)
get to · arrive in / arrive at · home (sans préposition)
Use get to a place. Use arrive in a town or country, and arrive at a building, airport or event. Never say arrive to. For home, use no preposition after movement verbs.
Utilisez get to un endroit. Utilisez arrive in une ville ou un pays, et arrive at un bâtiment, un aéroport ou un événement. Ne dites jamais arrive to. Pour home, n’utilisez pas de préposition après les verbes de mouvement.
get TO
arrive IN / arrive AT
HOME — no preposition
HOME — sans préposition
They arrived in Madrid / in Spain a week ago.
What time did you arrive at the hotel / at the airport? (NOT arrive to)
What time did you get home? (NOT get to home) · I met Lisa on my way home. They got to the hotel at midnight. · What time did you get to the party?
They arrived in Madrid / in Spain a week ago.
What time did you arrive at the hotel / at the airport? (PAS arrive to)
What time did you get home? (PAS get to home) · I met Lisa on my way home.
INTO — entering a place
INTO — entrer dans un endroit
go into, get into, come into etc. = enter (a room, building, car, etc.). With some verbs (especially go / get / put) you can also use in instead of into.
go into, get into, come into etc. = entrer dans (une pièce, un bâtiment, une voiture, etc.). Avec certains verbes (notamment go / get / put) on peut aussi utiliser in à la place de into.
A bird flew into the kitchen through the window.
Every month my salary is paid directly into my bank account.
She got in/into the car and drove away. (both are correct)
I read the letter and put it back in the envelope. 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.
She got in/into the car and drove away. (les deux sont corrects)
I read the letter and put it back in the envelope.
out of · get on / off (buses, trains, planes)
out of · get on / off (bus, trains, avions)
The opposite of into is out of. For buses, trains and planes we say get on and get off (not into/out of).
Le contraire de into est out of. Pour les bus, trains et avions, on dit get on et get off (pas into/out of).
out of — cars, taxis, rooms
out of — voitures, taxis, pièces
get on/off — public transport
get on/off — transports en commun
She got on the bus and I never saw her again.
You need to get off (the train) at the next station. She got out of the car and went into a shop.
She got on the bus and I never saw her again.
You need to get off (the train) at the next station.
Put in to / at / in / into where necessary. Write — if no preposition is needed.
Mettez to / at / in / into selon le cas. Écrivez — si aucune préposition n’est nécessaire.
Put in to / at / in where necessary. Write — if no preposition is needed.
Mettez to / at / in selon le cas. Écrivez — si aucune n’est nécessaire.
Complete with got + into / out of / on / off.
Complétez avec got + into / out of / on / off.
Correct the errors. Write the correct preposition (or — if none needed).
Corrigez les erreurs. Écrivez la bonne préposition (ou — si aucune).
Frequently Asked Questions — to, at, in and into
Questions Fréquentes — to, at, in and into
Use arrive in for large areas (towns, countries, regions): arrive in London, in Spain. Use arrive at for specific points or buildings (airports, hotels, parties, stations): arrive at the airport, at the hotel. Never use arrive to.
Utilisez arrive in pour les grandes zones (villes, pays, régions) : arrive in London, in Spain. Utilisez arrive at pour des points ou bâtiments spécifiques : arrive at the airport, at the hotel. Ne dites jamais arrive to.
Home functions like an adverb after verbs of movement: go home, come home, get home, arrive home. No preposition is needed. You can say go to my house (to + noun) but go home (no preposition). ✗ go to home is always wrong.
Home fonctionne comme un adverbe après les verbes de mouvement : go home, come home, get home, arrive home. Aucune préposition n’est nécessaire. ✗ go to home est toujours faux.
Go to the party = movement toward the party (you are heading there). Be at the party = position (you are already there). The preposition changes from to (movement) to at (position/state) once you have arrived.
Go to the party = mouvement vers la fête. Be at the party = position (vous y êtes déjà). La préposition passe de to (mouvement) à at (position) une fois arrivé.
Use get in/into for cars and taxis (small enclosed vehicles). Use get on for public transport (buses, trains, planes, boats). The same distinction applies for leaving: get out of a car/taxi vs get off a bus/train/plane.
Utilisez get in/into pour les voitures et taxis. Utilisez get on pour les transports en commun. La même distinction s’applique pour descendre : get out of une voiture/taxi vs get off un bus/train/avion.
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