Prepositions of Place: At, In or On?
Prepositions of Place:
At, In or On?
This
one can be very confusing for English learners:
at
,
in
or
on
? They are all
This one can be very confusing for English learners:or? They are all prepositions of place. So when should you use each?
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
Real-Life Preposition Examples
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At
The word “at” shows us WHERE something is. It doesn’t tell us whether
it is beside, inside, below or above. It simply shows WHERE.
We use “
at
”
when talking about positions or locations.
at
the restaurant.
She’s
at
the office.
He’s
at
home!
They met
at
a party.
He is sitting
in
the corner.
They are sitting
at
the table.
He was standing
at
the window.
He isthe restaurant.She’sthe office.He’shome!They meta party.He is sittingthe corner.They are sittingthe table.He was standingthe window.
in
”
when talking about a position INSIDE something else.
in
the
closet.
He’s
in
the
kitchen.
They are talking
in
the street.
She is lying
in
bed.
There was a fire
in
the fireplace
and she was sitting
in
the armchair.
There is a shark
in
the water!
It was written
in
the newspaper.
Chile is a country
in
South America.
The clothes arethe closet.He’sthe kitchen.They are talkingthe street.She is lyingbed.There was a firethe fireplaceand she was sittingthe armchair.There is a sharkthe water!It was writtenthe newspaper.Chile is a countrySouth America.
On
We use “
on
”
when one thing is ATTACHED to or TOUCHING another.
on
the wall.
There is a stain
on
his shirt.
The books are
on
the shelves.
he puts plates
on
the table.
There is one candle
on
the cake.
He likes riding
on
his horse.
There is a mirrorthe wall.There is a stainhis shirt.The books arethe shelves.he puts platesthe table.There is one candlethe cake.He likes ridinghis horse.
Examples
of Usage
At
In
On
at home
in bed
on the table
at work
in the box
on the shelf
at school
in the closet
on the wall
at the airport
in a basket
on the second floor
at the office
in his pocket
on Columbus street
at the party
in the car
on page 10
at the restaurant
in the kitchen
at the university
in the water
at the theater
in an armchair
at the hotel
in the street
at the wedding
in the garden
at the bus stop
in prison
at the corner of the street
in Times Square
at 12 Colombus Street
in New York
at Bob’s (= at his house)
in Texas
at the center
in the USA
at the top
in the sky
at the back of the house
in the mirror
at the door (= next to the door)
in a traffic jam
at the table (= next to the table)
in the book
Exercises
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The word “at” shows us WHERE something is. It doesn’t tell us whether it is beside, inside, below or above. It simply shows WHERE.We use “” when talking about positions or locations.We use “” when talking about a position INSIDE something else.We use “” when one thing is ATTACHED to or TOUCHING another.
