Preposition of place.

1.What Are Prepositions of Place?

Prepositions of place tell us where a person or thing is.

2.The Three Most Important Ones

2.1in

Use in for:

• inside something
• closed spaces
• in a city, country, or area
• in a car / taxi / van (inside a private vehicle)

Sentences:

• Sarah is in her room.
• My phone is in my bag.
• The dog is in the car.
• We live in Canada.
• The museum is in the city centre.

2.2on

Use on for:

• on a surface
• touching the top of something
• fixed position phrases: on the left / on the right
• on a bus / train / plane / ship (public transport)
• on the first / second floor
• on the corner (for a building where two streets meet)

Sentences:

• The book is on the table.
• The picture is on the wall.
• The jacket is on the floor.
• There is a label on the bottle.
• We are on the bus.
• The kitchen is on the left.
• Our flat is on the first floor.
• There is a café on the corner.

Use at the corner for a point where you meet someone: Let’s meet at the corner. Use on the corner for a building there: There is a café on the corner. Use in the corner for a position inside a room: The lamp is in the corner of the room.

2.3at

Use at for:

• a specific point (a meeting place): at the bus stop, at the door
• common places: at home, at school, at work

Sentences:

• She is at home.
• I am at work.
• Peter is at the door.
• Susan is at the bus stop.
• Let’s meet at the station.
• Let’s meet at the corner.
• The children are at school.

Use at for a place as a point, and in when you mean inside the building:

• “I’m at the shop.” = I am there, perhaps outside or meeting someone.
• “I’m in the shop.” = I am inside.
• “Meet me at the station.” / “I’m waiting in the station.”

3.Useful Position Words

These words show where one person or object is in relation to another.

Preposition	Meaning	Example
under	lower than and directly beneath	The cat is under the table.
next to	beside	She sits next to me.
beside / by	next to	The café is beside the library.
near	close to	There is a café near the station.
between	in the middle of two things	The bank is between the shop and the café.
behind	at the back of	The car is behind the house.
in front of	at the front of	The teacher is in front of the class.
opposite	facing across from	The bank is opposite the cinema.
inside	in the inner part of	The keys are inside the drawer.
outside	not inside	The children are outside the school.
on top of	on the highest surface of	The box is on top of the cupboard.
at the top of	at the highest part of	The clock is at the top of the wall.
at the bottom of	at the lowest part of	The shoes are at the bottom of the cupboard.

Inside emphasises that something is enclosed. It is often optional when in already works: The keys are inside the drawer and The keys are in the drawer are both possible.

3.1Compare: Near and Next To

In one street, a café can be next to the station: it is directly beside it. A hotel can be near the station: it is close, but not directly beside it.

3.2Compare: In Front Of and Opposite

In front of and opposite describe different positions. In front of means that one thing is at the front of another thing; they do not need to face each other. The teacher is in front of the class. Opposite means that two things face each other across a space, such as a road or a table. A bank is opposite the cinema across the road.

3.3Asking Where Someone or Something Is

• “Where is the cat?” — “It’s under the table.”
• “Where is the bank?” — “It’s opposite the cinema.”

4.Above, Over, and Below

Use these words to describe higher and lower positions.

Preposition	Meaning	Example
above	at a higher level	The lamp is above the table.
over	directly above, often covering something	A blanket is over the bed.
below	at a lower level	The car park is below the school.

4.1Compare: Above, Over, and Below

Use above when something is simply higher: The picture is above the sofa. Use over when something is directly above and covers another thing: A blanket is over the bed. Use below when something is at a lower level: The basement is below the kitchen.

4.2Compare: Under and Below

Use under when something is lower than and directly beneath another thing, often with that thing over it: The ball is under the chair. Use below when something is simply at a lower level: The basement is below the kitchen.

5.In and On in Pictures

Use in a picture/photo for a person or thing shown in the image. Use on a picture/photo only for something physically on its surface.

• “Who is the woman in the photo?”
• “There is a coffee stain on the photo.”

6.Common Mistakes

Incorrect	Correct	Why?
“Our flat is in the first floor.”	“Our flat is on the first floor.”	Use on with floor numbers.
“I’m in the bus.”	“I’m on the bus.”	Use on with buses, trains, planes, and ships.
“The keys are on my bag.”	“The keys are in my bag.”	Use in when something is inside.
“She is in home.”	“She is at home.”	At home is a fixed expression.
“I’m in the bus stop.”	“I’m at the bus stop.”	A bus stop is a point or meeting place.
“The toy is on the box.”	“The toy is in the box.”	Use in when the toy is inside the box.

7.Quick Summary

Preposition	Use it for	Example
in	inside a space, city, or country	in the bag / in London
on	a surface and public transport	on the table / on the bus
at	a point or common place	at the door / at home