The Most Common Prepositions of Place
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | inside an enclosed space | in the box, in London, in the car |
| on | on a surface | on the table, on the wall, on the bus |
| at | at a specific point or place | at the door, at school, at the station |
| under | below, beneath | under the table, under the bed |
| above / over | higher than | a sign above the door, clouds over the city |
| below / beneath | lower than | below the surface, beneath the water |
| in front of | facing the front side | the car in front of the house |
| behind | at the back | behind the sofa |
| next to / beside | at the side | the lamp next to the bed |
| between | in the middle of two things | between the two trees |
| among | in the middle of several/a group | among the crowd |
| near / close to | not far from | near the school |
| opposite | facing, on the other side | the shop opposite the bank |
| inside | within | inside the building |
| outside | not inside | outside the door |
in / on / at — Key Distinctions
| in | on | at | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enclosed spaces | ✓ in the room | ||
| Surfaces | ✓ on the floor | ||
| Specific points | ✓ at the bus stop | ||
| Countries / cities | ✓ in France | ||
| Streets (on the street) | ✓ on Oxford Street | ||
| Addresses | ✓ at 12 Baker Street |
Tip in = inside something; on = touching a surface; at = a point that can be put on a map or plan.
Describe where the cat is: 'The cat is ___ the sofa.' (touching the surface)
The cat is on the sofa.
Real world: map directions
The library is on the High Street, between the bank and the post office. The car park is behind the shopping centre, next to the bus station.
Real world: instruction manual
Insert the battery into the compartment at the back of the device. Place the unit on a flat surface and keep it away from direct sunlight.
Tip Prepositions of place are used constantly in everyday life: on maps and directions, in instruction manuals, in estate agent descriptions ("a flat in the city centre on the third floor"), and in recipes ("put the mixture in the oven").
Practice Problems
Fill in: The keys are ___ the drawer.
Show answer
The keys are in the drawer.
Fill in: She is waiting ___ the bus stop.
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She is waiting at the bus stop.
Fill in: The dog is hiding ___ the bed.
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The dog is hiding under the bed.
Fill in: The pharmacy is ___ the bank and the post office.
Show answer
The pharmacy is between the bank and the post office.