English grammar
Heading north, from … to, through or across?
Describe a route: direction, start and end, and what you go through or across.
From the scene Heading north, through the fog
In short
Heading gives the direction; from … to, the start and end. Through is inside something, across is side to side.
- the direction we were heading north
- start and end from Zamora to here
- inside something through the fog
- over an area across the hills
- on the other side just across the river
Your turn
Which one goes with start and end?
Options: we were heading north · through the fog · from Zamora to here
Show answer
start and end → from Zamora to here
How it works
Heading + a direction tells you which way you are going, not where you stop: we were heading north.
Good to know
From … to marks where a trip starts and ends: from Zamora to here. Through means inside something, from one end to the other: through the fog.
Good to know
Across means from one side to the other of an area, a line or a river: across the hills.
the direction we were heading north
Nuria
We were heading north, but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.
Íbamos hacia el norte, pero el puente permanece cerrado hasta mañana.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.
Options: Through the fog · We were heading north · From Zamora to here
Show answer
Nuria
We were heading north, but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.
Íbamos hacia el norte, pero el puente permanece cerrado hasta mañana.
start and end from Zamora to here
Javi
From Zamora to here, fog across the whole region.
Desde Zamora hasta aquí, niebla en toda la región.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), fog across the whole region.
Options: Through the fog · From Zamora to here · We were heading north
Show answer
Javi
From Zamora to here, fog across the whole region.
Desde Zamora hasta aquí, niebla en toda la región.
inside something through the fog
Elena
I drove for six hours through the fog.
Yo conduje seis horas a través de la niebla.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I drove for six hours (blank).
Options: from Zamora to here · through the fog · we were heading north
Show answer
Elena
I drove for six hours through the fog.
Yo conduje seis horas a través de la niebla.
over an area across the hills
Nuria
Mum says there's a way across the hills.
Mamá dice que hay un camino a través del monte.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Mum says there's a way (blank).
Options: across the hills · we were heading north · from Zamora to here
Show answer
Nuria
Mum says there's a way across the hills.
Mamá dice que hay un camino a través del monte.
on the other side just across the river
Elena
Relax. Portugal's just across the river.
Tranquilo. Portugal está al otro lado del río.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Relax. Portugal's (blank).
Options: just across the river · we were heading north · from Zamora to here
Show answer
Elena
Relax. Portugal's just across the river.
Tranquilo. Portugal está al otro lado del río.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| the direction | we were heading north |
|---|---|
| start and end | from Zamora to here |
| inside something | through the fog |
| over an area | across the hills |
| on the other side | just across the river |
More lines from the story
- JaviThat's why we're on the border with Portugal.Por eso estamos en la frontera con Portugal.