Direction and destination
Where is it going, or which way is it headed?
المعنى
We can show where something is going or what it is directed toward. We can name a destination or just a direction, without saying that it is reached. Languages use words, endings, or parts of the verb, and some have no special direction endings. Unlike Place, Direction and destination describes where something is headed, not where it is.
طريقة التعرّف عليه
Look for the part that answers where something is going, which way it is headed, or what it is directed toward.
في اللغة الأم
Arabic commonly introduces a destination with ilā 'to' and a direction with naḥwa 'toward.' A direction phrase does not by itself say that the destination is reached. Some motion verbs, such as dakhala 'enter,' can take the place directly without a preposition.
ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى الْمَخْبَزِ. (Dhahabtu ilā al-makhbazi.)
دَخَلْتُ الْغُرْفَةَ. (Dakhaltu al-ghurfata.)
The place follows this verb directly.
سِرْنَا نَحْوَ الْبَحْرِ. (Sirnā naḥwa al-baḥri.)
Naḥwa names the direction without stating that the sea was reached.
في اللغة قيد التعلم
English uses to for many destinations, into for movement inside, and onto for movement to a surface. Toward names a direction without saying the destination is reached. Destination words such as home, here, and there normally follow a movement verb without to.
We're going to the library.
To names the destination.
She stepped into the kitchen.
Into shows movement from outside to inside.
It's late. Let's go home.
Home already names a destination, so no to is needed.
Learners whose language uses one general destination marker may confuse to, into, and onto. Learners whose language marks all destinations in the same way may add to before home, here, or there.