A building may have several floors. This word points to a lower one.

The idea

Downstairs can describe a location or movement to a lower floor: be downstairs, go downstairs.

Examples

  • The kitchen is downstairs.
  • Our guests are waiting downstairs.
  • Please carry the bags downstairs.
  • We went downstairs for breakfast.
  • A dog was sleeping downstairs.
  • You can hear music from downstairs.

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Watch out

Do not add to before the adverb: say go downstairs, not go to downstairs.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct answer. The laundry room is on the lower floor. It is ___. (downstairs / upstairs)

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    downstairs

    Downstairs identifies the lower floor.

  2. Choose the correct answer. I will ___ to open the front door. (go downstairs / go to downstairs)

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    go downstairs

    Go downstairs gives the destination without an extra preposition.

  3. Choose the correct answer. The noise came ___ downstairs. (from / to)

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    from

    From identifies where the sound started.

Use it today

Describe a room on a lower floor and someone going there.