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A1 · BeginnerEnglish

Preposition of place

About 2 min read 8 vocabulary words
Prepositions of place (in, on, under, next to…)

1. What Are Prepositions of Place?

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

Examples:

  • The cat is on the chair.
  • The keys are in the bag.

2. The Three Most Important Ones

IN

Use in for:

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

Sentences:

  • Sarah is in her room.
  • My phone is in my bag.
  • The dog is in the car.

ON

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 internet / on TV

Sentences:

  • The book is on the table.
  • The picture is on the wall.
  • The jacket is on the floor.

AT

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.

Quick choice:

  • in = inside: in the box / in the room / in the city
  • on = on a surface: on the table / on the wall
  • at = point/meeting place: at the door / at the bus stop / at home

3. Other Common Prepositions of Place

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

  • under → below
    The cat is under the table.
  • next to → beside
    She sits next to me.
  • between → in the middle of two things
    The bank is between the shop and the café.
  • behind → at the back
    The car is behind the house.
  • in front of → before something
    The teacher is in front of the class.

4. Visual Tip

Ask:

  • Is it inside? → in
  • Is it on a surface? → on
  • Is it a place or point? → at

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Prepositions of place (in, on, under, next to…)

A1

Prepositions of place

8 words
in
A2

preposition

Indicates a position within a space or area.

The cat is in the box.

on
A2

preposition

Used to indicate a position above something and in contact with it.

The book is on the table.

at
A2

preposition

Used to indicate a specific time or place.

I will meet you at the park.

under
A2

preposition

In a position below or beneath something else.

The cat is under the table.

next to
A2

preposition

Located immediately adjacent to something else.

The bookstore is next to the coffee shop.

between
A2

preposition

Used to indicate the position of something in relation to two or more things.

The book is between the two chairs.

behind
A2

preposition

At the back of something; in a position that is further back than something else.

The cat is hiding behind the sofa.

in front of
A2

phrase

Positioned before or ahead of something or someone.

The car is parked in front of the house.

Last updated May 28, 2026