126 : to, at, in and into

   A   

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

 

     go to China                       go to bed

     go back to Italy                go to the bank

     return to London             go to a concert

     come to my house           drive to the airport

     be sent to prison             be taken to hospital

     welcome somebody to a place

• When are your friends going back to Italy? (not going back in Italy)
• Three people were injured in the accident and taken to hospital.
• Welcome to our country! (not Welcome in)

 

 

In the same way we say 'a journey to / a trip to / a visit to / on my way to ... ' etc. :

• Did you enjoy your trip to Paris / your visit to the zoo?

 

 

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 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   

Get and arrive

 

 

We say get to a place:

• What time did they get to London / to work / to the hotel?

 

 

But we say arrive in ... or arrive at ... (not arrive to).

 

 

We say arrive in a town, city or country:

• They arrived in London / in Spain a week ago.

 

 

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

• When did they arrive at the hotel / at the airport / at the party?

 

 

   C   

Home

 

 

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

 

We do not say 'to home':

• I'm tired. Let's go home now. (not go to home)
• I met Lisa on my way home. (not my way to home)

 

 

   D   

Into

 

 

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.

 

 

We usually say 'get on/off a bus / a train / a plane' (not usually into/out of):

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