Into or onto
I would like to know the difference between “into” or “onto” and to guess the real meaning of “onto”.
For example: What is the correct preposition in these sentences?
their sister Jenny is getting ………… her bicycle. (into/onto)
then, it ran ………….. onto/along the wall and hid in the cupboard. (onto/along)
(In this second sentence, they are talking about a mouse).
14 Answers
1) Their sister Jenny is getting onto her bicycle.
The definition of "onto" =
to a place or position on; upon; on, e.g., to get onto a horse.
2) It ran along the wall and hid in the cupboard.
The definition of "along" here =
beside, or parallel to the length or direction of; e.g., from one end to the other of: to walk along a highway; to run a border along a shelf.
One definition of "into" means inside. For example,
The mouse ran into the hole (he went inside).
The man walked into the room (he went inside).
Another definition of "into" means to make contact with something. For example,
I walked into the wall (I collided with the wall).
My car ran "into" my neighbor's car (my car collided with his car).
The mouse jumped ........................... my slipper (onto/around). Are both of them possible?
Yes, both are possible.
The mouse jumped onto my slipper (he is now on top of your slipper).
The mouse jumped around my slipper (he jumped in a circle on all sides of your slipper but was not touching it).
Also, you can say "the mouse jumped into my slipper (he is now inside my slipper)
Sorry, is it true that about dictionary Collins? - into - walked into a tree
That is the second example of the word "into," which, in this case, means "to come into contact with."
I walked into a tree = I collided with the tree.
No, the different uses of "into" are not obvious. However, with context you won't have any problem communicating which definition of "into" you are using.
their sister Jenny is getting onto her bicycle.
If it were a car she would be getting "into"
then, it ran along the wall and hid in the cupboard.
If you hadn't mentioned the cupboard then you could also say the mouse ran into the wall. Mind you he could still run into the wall and then hide in the cupboard but "along" the wall is more appropriate.
Dad gum, I thought I had something to offer, but this is so complicated.
Yes, I know what you meant but imagine these are a series of facts. Firstly, the mouse did this. Secondly, it did another thing. Thirdly, it did another one and so on.
You use the past simple to indicate a series of facts in the past. But if the mouse was jumping around the slipper, you cannot use the past simple. Therefore, the mouse was jumping around the slipper. At least, in Spanish, you need to get longer the action by changing the tense. Realise that it was not only a jump, they were several ones.
In Spanish, you can get longer the action if you say "saltaba alrededor" or "estaba saltando alrededor". But as in English you cannot distinguish "saltó" from "saltaba" you need to use "it was jumping around".
Under my point of view "saltó alrededor" can be correct, but it can be ambiguous.
Under a Spanish speaker's point of view, "it jumped and placed round the slipper" (dió un salto y se colocó alrededor de la zapatilla) would be more explicit because you are talking about one jump.
The mouse jumped around my slipper
I disagree about the "normal" interpretation of this phrase. It could, conceivably, mean "made a series of jumps in the general vicinity of the slipper" but that seems to me to be the less probable interpretation. I would normally take the expression to mean jumped in such a way as to "avoid" landing on/in the slipper". By way of analogy, one goes around an obstacle does not mean to circumnavigate the obstacle but, rather, to move so that it ceases to be an obstacle (to ones progress) cf. "to get around the problem".
how can a jump be round?.
The word is around.
The mouse jumped around my slipper (he jumped in a circle on all sides of my slipper but was not touching it).
Maybe in Spanish it's "el ratón saltó alrededor de la zapatilla."
Anyway, I can see "into" or "onto" because "the mouse can jump into the slipper" (el ratón puede saltar hacia dentro de la zapatilla). And "the mouse can jump onto the slipper" (el ratón puede subirse encima de la zapatilla con un salto). But, how can a jump be round?.
Unless, they are several jumps round.
Now, I see how important is the situation of the mouse regarding the slipper to choose the correct option.
Well, and what about this sentence?
The mouse jumped ........................... my slipper (onto/round). Are both of them possible?
And what about? The mouse jumped ....................... my slipper (into/round).
Sorry, is it true that about dictionary Collins? - into - walked into a tree
Then, the difference is not so obvious, isn't it?
I am not totally convinced about English grammar exercises.
Yes, Marianne the question is about "onto". It is my main difficulty, but now I would like to know both of them. Your answer with the word "into" has made me think. If there is a hole in the wall, then it can be "into".
How interesting!
