📍 Prepositions of Place
| AT | IN | ON |
|---|---|---|
|
At a point: at the door, at the crossroads, at the traffic light Top/Bottom/End of: at the top of the stairs, at the end of the street Group activities: at a party, at a concert, at the cinema School/University: at school, at university Home/Work: at home, at work Shops: at the bakery, at a café, at the chemist's |
In a 3D space: in the bag, in the classroom, in a box Territory: in London, in Europe, in the world Car/Van: in the car, in a van Water: in the sea, in a river, in a lake, in the swimming pool Printed material: in a book, in a picture, in the newspaper |
On a surface: on the table, on the carpet, on the roof Floor: on the first floor, on the fifth floor Right/Left: on the right, on the left Public transport: on the bus, on the train, on a plane Media: on the radio, on TV, on the Internet, on a website |
📍 At – Specific Point or Place
At a point: We use at to refer to a point near something.
- Can you see that car at the traffic light? 🚗
- Who is that man at the door? 🚪
Common expressions with "at":
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| at the top of | She is at the top of the stairs. ⬆️ |
| at the bottom of | Please sign at the bottom of the page. ⬇️ |
| at the end of | The café is at the end of the street. 🏙️ |
Group activities: Used with events or gatherings.
- We were at the cinema. 🎬
- I didn’t see you at Jackie’s party. 🎈
- We met at a concert. 🎶
At + school/university/college:
- He is at school every morning. 🧑🏫
- I’m studying at Oxford University. 🎓
At home / at work: No article "the" used!
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| She’s at home. ✅ | She’s |
| I’ll be at work all morning. ✅ | I’ll be |
At the shop / café / restaurant:
- I’m at the bakery. 🥐
- If you are at the chemist’s, can you buy some aspirin? 💊
📦 In – Inside or Enclosed Space
In a 3D space:
- The book is in the bag. 🎒
- She is waiting in the classroom. 🧑🏫
In a limited area: Continents, countries, cities, regions, etc.
- We are in France. 🇫🇷
- I love the houses in the Alps. 🏔️
In a car / van:
- They are in the car. 🚘
In the water:
- The kids have fun in the swimming pool. 🏊♀️
In a book / picture / newspaper:
- Who’s that woman in the picture? 🖼️
- Does it say anything about the concert in the newspaper? 🗞️
🧍 On – On a Surface or Platform
On a surface:
- The book is on the table. 📖
On a floor:
- The office is on the third floor. 🛗
On the right / left:
- The office is on the third floor on the left. ⬅️
On transport:
- She’s on the bus right now. 🚌
On media:
- I saw it on TV last night. 📺
- I learned it on the Internet. 🌐
Exercises:
At, in, on: Prepositions of place
Choose at, in, on to complete the sentences.
1
The cat is
the sofa.
2
We live
New York City.
3
The keys are
the drawer.
4
He is waiting
the bus stop.
5
She left her bag
the car.
6
The painting hangs
the wall.
7
The shop is
the corner.
8
They met
the restaurant.
9
He sat
the chair.
10
The letter is
the envelope.
At, in, on: Prepositions of place
Choose the correct prepositions of place (at, in, on) to complete the sentences.
1
He lives ____ 221B Baker Street.
A.
B.
C.
2
Sarah works ____ an international company.
A.
B.
C.
3
The keys are ____ the kitchen table.
A.
B.
C.
4
The café is ____ the corner of Main and Oak.
A.
B.
C.
5
The library is ____ the first floor.
A.
B.
C.
6
My shoes are ____ the closet.
A.
B.
C.
7
The children are playing ____ the backyard.
A.
B.
C.
8
The notice is posted ____ the door.
A.
B.
C.
9
The meeting will be held ____ the conference room.
A.
B.
C.
10
He placed the book ____ the shelf.
A.
B.
C.
At, in, on: Prepositions of place
Complete the sentences using the correct prepositions of place: at, in, on.
1
The cat is
the roof.
2
The hotel is
the beach.
3
He works
a software company.
4
The store is
the corner of 5th and Elm.
5
The documents are
the top drawer.
6
There’s a chandelier
the ceiling.
7
She lives
an apartment building.
8
They had drinks
the rooftop terrace.
9
The café is
the end of the street.
10
His office is
the third floor.