Provided herein is a method for sequencing a polynucleotide molecules. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of polynucleotide molecules attached to a surface, wherein a first portion of each polynucleotide molecule is attached to a first location of the surface and a second portion of each polynucleotide molecule is attached to a second location of the surface, the relative proximity of the first and second locations being correlated with the probability that the first and second portions are paired, separating the first and second portions of the polynucleotide molecules on the surface, determining the sequences of the first and second portions of the polynucleotide molecules and comparing the relative proximities and the sequences to determine which first and second portions are paired and to determine the sequence of the target polynucleotide molecules.