Basics. Prepositions of Movement and Place: to, in, and at: correct answers
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Choosing the right preposition for travel and location can be tricky for English learners. As a general rule, we use to for movement toward a destination (e.g., "She went to the bank"), in for arriving at large areas like cities, countries, or enclosed spaces (e.g., "They arrived in Paris"), and at for arriving at specific points or buildings (e.g., "He arrived at the hotel").
In this challenge, you will practice choosing between to, in, and at across a variety of fun scenarios. You'll help a time traveler who just arrived in Ancient Rome, guide a clumsy spy infiltrating a secret volcano base, and read a dramatic dog's plan to run to the neighbor's house. You'll also review travel itineraries for aliens and track a sneaky suspect's movements to master these essential grammar rules.
You'll work through 10 questions in a varied mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are The suspect walked to the bank at 9:00 AM, After that, he went to the airport, and He finally arrived at the airport at noon.
Most destinations need the preposition to after a movement verb (walk to the bank, go to the airport).
Exceptions to remember:
- The word home takes no preposition with verbs of movement (he drove home, NOT drove to home).
- The verb arrive uses at for specific buildings like an airport (arrive at the airport), not "to".
- You fly to a city, not "in" it!
Question 2
Complete the time traveler's rather embarrassing journal entry.
The time traveler was quite confused when he finally arrived ___ Ancient Rome, mostly because he was wearing a 1970s disco suit.
The correct answer is in.
We use "arrive in" when talking about arriving at a large geographic destination, such as a city, country, or empire (like Rome, Japan, or Paris).
Note: A very common mistake is saying "arrive to," but in English, we never use "to" with the verb "arrive"!
Question 3
Help Zorg the alien complete his travel log about his first day on Earth by dragging the correct prepositions to the blanks.
After a long flight from Mars, I finally arrived in London yesterday morning. I immediately went to a small cafe to try this fascinating "coffee" liquid everyone drinks. Right now, I am waiting at the train station because a pigeon looked at me funny and I need to escape!
After a long flight from Mars, I finally arrived in London yesterday morning.
We use in (not to or at) with cities, countries, and large regions when talking about arrival or location.
I immediately went to a small cafe to try this fascinating "coffee" liquid everyone drinks.
We use to to show movement or direction toward a destination (like going to a cafe).
Right now, I am waiting at the train station because a pigeon looked at me funny and I need to escape!
We use at for specific points on a map, public facilities, or exact locations like a train station.
Question 4
The correct answers are to, at, and in.
to is used for movement or direction toward a destination (walking to the grocery store).
at is used for a specific location or point, like the fixed expression "at home."
in is used when something is inside an enclosed space (inside a pocket).
Question 5
Help the clumsy secret agent finish his mission report for headquarters.
I successfully parachuted out of the plane, but I unfortunately arrived ___ the villain's secret volcano base completely covered in mud.
The correct answer is at.
We use "arrive at" for specific buildings, facilities, or events (like a base, a hospital, the airport, or a party).
Remember: Just like with cities, we never use "arrive to" in English!
Question 6
The correct answers are Please let me know when you get to the hotel, Please let me know when you arrive at the hotel, and I will meet you when you walk into the lobby.
The verbs get and arrive are both used to talk about reaching a destination, but they take different prepositions!
- Use get to + destination (get to the hotel).
- Use arrive at + specific building/place (arrive at the hotel). Never say "arrive to"!
- Use into to describe the movement of entering a room or enclosed space (walk into the lobby).
Question 7
Complete Agent 007.5's highly classified (and slightly embarrassing) mission report by dragging the correct words to the blanks.
First, I drove my secret submarine to the enemy island under the cover of darkness. Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn and arrived at the evil headquarters three hours late. Currently, I am stuck in the villain's elevator with a broken button, waiting for someone to rescue me.
First, I drove my secret submarine to the enemy island under the cover of darkness.
We use to to indicate the destination of a movement or journey.
Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn and arrived at the evil headquarters three hours late.
We use arrive at for specific buildings, facilities, or events (unlike cities or countries, which take arrive in).
Currently, I am stuck in the villain's elevator with a broken button, waiting for someone to rescue me.
We use in for enclosed, 3-dimensional spaces like rooms, cars, or elevators.
Question 8
Read Barnaby the golden retriever's dramatic escape plan and choose the correct word.
If my humans try to give me another soapy bath, I will immediately run ___ the neighbor's house and demand political asylum!
The correct answer is to.
We use "to" after verbs of movement (like run, go, walk, drive, or fly) to show the direction or destination of the movement. Barnaby is moving in the direction of the neighbor's house!
Question 9
The correct answers are to, in, and at.
to shows movement toward a destination (traveling to London).
in is used for being inside a 3D or enclosed space (inside a safe).
at is used to pinpoint a specific location or point on a map (waiting at the airport gate).
Question 10
The correct answers are We will travel to Paris tomorrow morning, We will arrive in Paris just before noon, and We will drive to the Eiffel Tower after lunch.
When talking about movement towards a destination, we use to with verbs like go, travel, and drive (e.g., travel to Paris, drive to the Eiffel Tower).
However, with the verb arrive, we never use "to". We use in for cities and countries (arrive in Paris) and at for specific buildings or events.