Verbs of Motion - Глаголы движения

I've been thinking about the verbs of motion recently, and this is a particularly difficult topic for English speakers, because we only need one verb to indicate the kind of motion, but there are three in Russian. But the choice of verb isn't what I want to talk about yet - it's the choice of preposition to accompany it.

First, let's quickly analyse an motion action. Whether we indicate each part of it or not, an action has a starting point, a journey (the actual movement) and a finishing point.

You can state where you are going to or where you are coming from, and this is the part I want to focus on, because there are 3 prepositions for each of these. Let's start with "to"...

If you've been studying Russian for a while, then you've most likely come across "в" and "на", whose objects take the accusative case. We use these to talk about places and events we are going to. But which preposition do I use? Have a read of this article, and it'll prove enlightening: http://www.yearlyglot.com/2010/05/differentiating-the-russian-prepositions-v-and-na/.

So here we've established two of the prepositions, but what's the third?

The third is used for animate objects, and the preposition is "к" + dative case. For example, "к брату", "к сестре" and "к врачу". However, these don't mean "to my brother", "to my sister" and "to the doctor", they actually mean "to my brother's place", "to my sister's place" and "to the doctor's office". By "place", I mean wherever they may be. By default, it means their house, but if it's already been established where they are, then that's the location.

So that's "to" a place, but what about "from"? Actually, this is incredibly easy, because depending on what the "to" preposition is, you just need to swap it for another. Here's what I mean....

If "в" + accusative is "to" a place, then "from" a place is "из" + genitive.

If "на" + accusative is "to" a place, then "from" a place is "с" + genitive.

If "к" + dative is "to" a place, then "from" a place is "от" + genitive.

But wait, it gets better....

The rule for "at" a place also fits in here.

If "в" + accusative is "to" a place, then "at" a place is "в" + prepositional.

If "на" + accusative is "to" a place, then "at" a place is "на" + prepositional.

If "к" + dative is "to" a place, then "at" a place is "у" + genitive.

Summary Table

To / From / At

в + acc. / из + gen. / в + prp. (for places)

на + acc. / с + gen. / на + prp. (for places)

к + dat. / от + gen. / у + gen. (for people)

Here is a short exercise focussing on the difference between uni- and multi-directional verbs ходить and идти (to go on foot, to walk)*

Choose the correct form:

Я (хожу, иду) в магазин за хлебом – I am going to the store to get some breаd.

Я каждый день (хожу, иду) на работу. – I walk to work everyday.

Он часто (ходит, идёт) ко мне в гости.  – He often comes to visit me.

Я не люблю (ходить, идти) в кино по субботам.- I don’t like to go to the cinema on Saturdays.

Сегодня вечером я (хожу, иду) в кино. – I am going to the cinema tonight.

(Идёт, Ходит) дождь. – It is raining.

*Note: Russian distinguishes between going somewhere on foot and by vehicle. For going on foot verbs идти and ходить are used. For going by vehicle verbs ехать and eздить are used.