Prepositions of Place: In, On, At, Under, Between

Why Are Prepositions So Difficult?

Prepositions are one of the trickiest parts of English. In many cases, there is no logical rule -- you just have to learn which preposition goes with which word. The good news is that with practice and clear explanations, you can master the most common ones.

This lesson focuses on prepositions that describe where something is -- prepositions of place.

The Big Three: In, On, At

IN -- Inside an Enclosed Space

Use in when something is inside or enclosed by something else.

Physical spaces:

• The milk is in the fridge.
• She is in the kitchen.
• The keys are in my pocket.
• He lives in a small apartment.

Cities, countries, continents:

• She lives in Toronto.
• I was born in Ukraine.
• The Amazon rainforest is in South America.

Other uses of "in":

• in a car / in a taxi (you sit inside)
• in bed
• in the newspaper / in a book
• in a photo / in a picture
• in the sky / in the world

ON -- Touching a Surface

Use on when something is touching the surface of something else.

Surfaces:

• The book is on the table.
• There is a picture on the wall.
• She sat on the floor.
• He has a tattoo on his arm.

Streets:

• The shop is on Main Street.
• I live on Oak Avenue.

Transport (you stand or sit on it openly):

• on the bus / on the train / on the plane
• on a bicycle / on a motorcycle / on a horse

Technology:

• on the phone (talking)
• on the internet / on social media
• on TV / on the radio

Other uses of "on":

• on the left / on the right
• on the first floor / on the second floor
• on the corner (of a street)

AT -- A Specific Point or Location

Use at when you think of a place as a point on a map rather than an area.

Specific places:

• I'm at the bus stop.
• She is at work / at school / at home.
• We met at the airport.
• Let's meet at the entrance.

Addresses (with number):

• She lives at 42 Baker Street.

Events:

• I was at a concert last night.
• She is at a meeting.

Other uses of "at":

• at the top / at the bottom
• at the front / at the back
• at the end of the road

Quick Comparison: In, On, At

Other Important Prepositions of Place

Under / Below

Under = directly below something, often with something above covering it.

• The cat is under the table.
• Your shoes are under the bed.

Below = lower than something, but not necessarily directly under.

• The temperature is below zero.
• The village is below the mountain.

Above / Over

Above = higher than something, but not touching.

• The clock is above the door.
• The plane flew above the clouds.

Over = directly above and sometimes covering.

• She put a blanket over the baby.
• The bridge goes over the river.

Between / Among

Between = in the middle of TWO things.

• The pharmacy is between the bank and the post office.
• I sat between Maria and Tom.

Among = in the middle of THREE or more things.

• She was standing among the crowd.
• The house is hidden among the trees.

Next to / Beside / Near / By

All of these mean "close to," with slight differences:

• Next to = immediately beside, touching or almost touching
  • The bank is next to the supermarket.
• Beside = at the side of (slightly more formal)
  • She sat beside me on the bus.
• Near = close to, but with some distance
  • There is a park near my house.
• By = very close to
  • The phone is by the lamp.

In front of / Behind / Opposite

• In front of = facing the front of something
  • There is a garden in front of the house.
• Behind = at the back of something
  • The parking lot is behind the building.
• Opposite = on the other side, facing
  • The restaurant is opposite the cinema.

Tricky Cases: Fixed Expressions

Some prepositions with places follow no clear rule -- you must simply learn them:

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose In, On, or At

1. She lives _____ London.
2. The picture is _____ the wall.
3. I'll meet you _____ the bus stop.
4. The milk is _____ the fridge.
5. He works _____ an office _____ the fifth floor.
6. There is a supermarket _____ King Street.
7. She's _____ home right now.
8. I read about it _____ the newspaper.
9. We live _____ 78 Park Avenue.
10. The children are playing _____ the garden.

Answers: 1. in, 2. on, 3. at, 4. in, 5. in / on, 6. on, 7. at, 8. in, 9. at, 10. in

Exercise 2: Fill in the Preposition

1. The cat is hiding _____ the bed. (below the bed)
2. The bank is _____ the post office and the cafe. (in the middle)
3. There is a lamp _____ the desk. (higher, not touching)
4. She was sitting _____ me on the train. (at my side)
5. The school is _____ the hospital. (on the other side of the street)

Answers: 1. under, 2. between, 3. above, 4. beside/next to, 5. opposite

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: "in" instead of "on" for streets

• Wrong: The shop is in Main Street.
• Correct: The shop is on Main Street.

Mistake 2: "in" instead of "at" for specific locations

• Wrong: I'm in the bus stop.
• Correct: I'm at the bus stop.

Mistake 3: "in" with transport

• Wrong: She is in the bus.
• Correct: She is on the bus.
• (But: She is in the car / in a taxi.)

Mistake 4: "on" instead of "at" for events

• Wrong: I was on a party last night.
• Correct: I was at a party last night.

Tips for Learning Prepositions

1. Learn them in phrases, not alone. Don't just learn "in" -- learn "in the kitchen," "in London," "in a car."
2. Visualize the meaning. Picture "in" as being inside a box, "on" as touching a surface, and "at" as standing at a point.
3. Read and listen actively. When you read or listen to English, notice which prepositions are used. Write down new combinations.
4. Practice describing your room. Look around and describe where everything is: "The book is on the shelf. My phone is next to the lamp."
5. Accept that some prepositions just need to be memorized. Not everything follows a rule, and that is okay.