A2preposition2K

Onto

UK /["/ˈɒntə//ˈɒntu/"]/US /["/ˈɑːntə//ˈɑːntu/"]/

Definition

used with verbs to express movement on or to a particular place or position

In simple words: Moving to a position on a surface or area.

Examples

  • Move the books onto the second shelf.
  • She stepped down from the train onto the platform.
  • The window looked out onto the terrace.

Usage notes

Use 'onto' to indicate movement toward a surface, often in physical contexts. Avoid using it in very formal writing; instead, use 'upon' in those cases.

Grammar pattern

onto + object

Memory hint

Think of 'onto' as 'on' + 'to', like climbing onto a roof.

Collocations

  • jump onto
  • get onto
  • climb onto

Synonyms

  • upon
  • on
  • to

Antonyms

  • off

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'on to' (as in 'moving on to the next chapter').
  • Used incorrectly as a synonym for 'into'.
  • Omitted when clarifying movement, leading to confusion.