Preposition Dino

Possibly the best preposition learning website in the world

down

down; downward or below

  • Direction or position downward.
  • Contrast with up.
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Scene category

Controls

Drag to rotate / Scroll to zoom / Pinch to zoom

Examples

Spatial examples

The apple falls down.

He went down the stairs.

Dynamic examples

Watch the marker move down the stairs.

Then trace a second path down the road.

Related prepositions

up default thumbnail

up

up; upward or above

below default thumbnail

below

at a lower level; lower than a reference point or standard

under default thumbnail

under

below and often covered by something above; also less than a limit

off default thumbnail

off

off; away from a surface

Key differences

down mainly shows movement toward a lower position; compare it with similar dynamic prepositions to avoid path confusion.

up

down focuses on movement toward a lower position, while up usually marks a different path relation.

upup the stairs
downdown the stairs

off

down highlights movement toward a lower position; off often changes direction or endpoint meaning.

offoff the table
downdown the stairs

Quick check questions (decision tree)

  • Is there clear motion or a path (walk/run/fly/roll/climb)?

    Yes -> consider down; if it's static position only, use a spatial preposition.

  • What is the path relation: through, across, along, toward, into, onto?

    If it is not this page's relation, switch to a closer option like up or off.

  • Is the sentence about reaching an endpoint (enter/land/arrive)?

    Yes -> an endpoint preposition (into/onto/to) may fit better; No -> choose by the path itself.

Common collocations

Vertical descent

down the stairs
down the ladder
down the hill
down the ramp
down the escalator
down the slope

Route descent

down the road
down the street
down the river
down the path
down the valley
down the corridor

Chart movement

down the chart
down the ranking
down the list
down the timeline
down the page
down the screen

Common mistakes

Avoid: The marker moved up the stairs.

Use: The marker moved down the stairs.

Reason: Use down for movement toward a lower position; up changes the path relation.

Avoid: The ball rolled off the ladder.

Use: The ball rolled down the ladder.

Reason: down matches the intended motion; off shifts direction or endpoint meaning.

Mini quiz

Question 1

Choose the correct preposition: ___ the stairs.

Choose an answer

Question 2

Choose the correct preposition: ___ the ladder.

Choose an answer

Question 3

Choose the correct preposition: ___ the road.

Choose an answer

Quick FAQ

What does "down" mean?+

down; downward or below. Rule: Direction or position downward.

When should I use "down"?+

Use it when this relation is true: Direction or position downward. Contrast with up. Rule: The apple falls down.

What is the difference between "down" and "up"?+

down focuses on movement toward a lower position, while up usually marks a different path relation. Rule: up the stairs

What is the difference between "down" and "off"?+

down highlights movement toward a lower position; off often changes direction or endpoint meaning. Rule: off the table

Can "down" be used for time expressions?+

Mostly no. This preposition is primarily spatial/dynamic; use dedicated time prepositions when needed.

What is a common mistake when using "down"?+

A frequent beginner mistake is: Avoid: The marker moved up the stairs. Use: The marker moved down the stairs. Reason: Use down for movement toward a lower position; up changes the path relation.

What are common collocations with "down"?+

High-frequency examples: down the stairs, down the ladder, down the hill, down the ramp, down the escalator, down the slope

How does "down" express movement?+

Track the movement path first, then confirm start point, direction, and endpoint.