INTRODUCTION:
Prepositions of place help us describe where someone or something is located.
We use them to explain the position of a person, object, building, or place in relation to something else.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use common prepositions of place, including
in, on, at, under, above, behind, in front of, next to, and between.
Let’s start by looking at how these prepositions are used.
What Are Prepositions of Place?
Prepositions of place are words or phrases that tell us where someone or something is.
They usually come before a noun or noun phrase and show the position of something in relation to another person, object, or place.
For example:
- The documents are in the drawer.
- There is a clock on the wall.
- She is waiting at the reception desk.
The correct preposition depends on the relationship between the person or object and the place around it
IN
We use in when someone or something is inside an enclosed space or area.
We commonly use in with:
- Rooms
- Buildings
- Containers
- Cities and Countries
- Areas or spaces
Examples:
- The children are playing in the garden.
- She left her phone in her bag.
- My brother works in a hospital.
- They live in Cape Town.
- There are several people in the room.
ON
We use on when something is touching or positioned on a surface.
We commonly use on with:
- Tables
- Desks
- Floors
- Walls
- Shelves
- Other surfaces
Examples
- Your glasses are on the desk.
- There is a painting on the wall.
- The children sat on the floor.
- I found a note on the kitchen counter.
- The books are on the top shelf.
AT
We use at when we talk about a specific point or location.
The location does not necessarily mean that something is physically inside a space.
We are often identifying a particular place or point.
Examples
- I’ll meet you at the entrance.
- She is waiting at the bus stop.
- We stopped at the traffic lights.
- He is standing at the door.
- They met at the station.
- The light is above the mirror.
Speaking Practice
Answer each question in a complete sentence. Choose the correct preposition: in, on, or at.
- 1. Where do you live?
- 2. Where can you find your keys right now?
- 3. Where do you usually wait for a bus?
- 4. Where do you keep your clothes?
- 5. Where can you find the remote control?
- 6. Where do you usually meet your friends?
Other Common Prepositions of Place
UNDER
Under means that something is below another thing.
- The shoes are under the bed
ABOVE
- Above means that something is in a higher position than another thing.
BEHIND
Behind means that something is at the back of another thing.
- The car is parked behind the building.
IN FRONT OF
In front of means that something is positioned before or ahead of another thing.
- The bus stopped in front of the school.
NEXT TO
Next to means immediately beside something or someone.
- The supermarket is next to the pharmacy.
BETWEEN
Between means in the space separating two people, objects, places, or things.
The café is between the library and the bank.