Lesson 23 · Stage 2: Everyday words: pronouns, articles, prepositions
Prepositions of place: in / on / at
BeginnerForm & use
in the box, on the wall, at the door, next to, between, opposite — saying where something is
1.In, on, at — three basic ideas
| Preposition | Idea | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| in | inside a space with limits: a box, a room, a bag, a city, a country | in the box, in the kitchen, in my bag, in Hanoi, in Vietnam |
| on | on a surface, touching it: a table, a wall, the floor, a page | on the table, on the wall, on the floor, on page 12 |
| at | a point, a place where you stand, meet or do something | at the door, at the bus stop, at the traffic lights, at the counter |
The keys are in the drawer.
There's a calendar on the fridge.
I'll wait for you at the gate.
My brother lives in Da Nang.
Translating word by word from your own language often gives the wrong preposition: a bird is in the sky, not on it, and a passenger is on the bus, not in it. Learning whole phrases is faster and safer.
2.Common phrases
| in | on | at |
|---|---|---|
| in the sky, in the sea | on the left, on the right | at home, at work, at school |
| in a photo, in the mirror | on the ground floor, on the third floor | at the top / at the bottom of the page |
| in bed, in hospital (BrE) / in the hospital (AmE) | on the bus, on the train, on a plane | at the end of the road |
| in my pocket, in the street (BrE) / on the street (AmE) | on the beach, on a farm, on an island | at a party, at a concert, at the meeting |
Minh is still in bed.
sleeping or resting: in bed
Our flat is on the fifth floor.
I'm staying at home tonight.
We met at a friend's wedding.
Write your name at the top of the form.
Being in your house is at home — no the, and not in home. Going there is go home; see the lesson “Prepositions of movement: to / at / in / into”.
3.In or at: cities and buildings
Cities and countries → always in: in Hue, in Japan. With buildings (a school, a bank, a cinema, a station, a hotel), we usually use at to say you are there for a purpose, and in to stress being inside the building. Someone's home: at Lan's (house), at my grandma's.
I'm at the bank. I'll call you back.
It's really cold in the cinema, so bring a jacket.
stressing inside
We stayed at a small hotel in Hoi An.
We had dinner at my grandma's.
at + someone's = at their home
4.Other prepositions of place
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| next to / beside | right at the side of | The pharmacy is next to the bank. |
| between … and … | in the middle of two things | The café is between the bakery and the school. |
| opposite (AmE: across from) | facing, on the other side (of a road, a table) | The hotel is opposite the market. |
| in front of | ahead of, at the front of | There's a tree in front of my house. |
| behind | at the back of | The car park is behind the supermarket. |
| under / below | lower than (under: directly beneath; below: at a lower level) | The cat is asleep under the chair. |
| above / over | higher than, not touching | There's a clock above the door. |
| near | not far from | Do you live near the school? |
Hoa sits next to me in class.
The post office is between the bank and the police station.
There's a pharmacy opposite my house, across the road.
A tall man was standing in front of me, so I couldn't see.
Don't mix up in front of and opposite. A mango tree right outside your house, on the same side of the road, is in front of your house. A house on the other side of the road, facing yours, is opposite yours. Also remember: opposite usually goes straight before the noun; next to needs to; in front of needs of.
5.Common mistakes
My parents live at Vietnam.My parents live in Vietnam.
Countries and cities → in.
There's some water in the floor.There's some water on the floor.
The floor is a surface → on.
He's in home today.He's at home today.
Being at your house = at home.
We had fun in Minh's birthday party.We had fun at Minh's birthday party.
Events (parties, meetings, concerts) → at.
The bank is next the post office.The bank is next to the post office.
next to needs to.
The shop is between the bank with the café.The shop is between the bank and the café.
between A and B.
Examples
- There's a picture on the wall above my bed.
- Put the ice cream in the freezer, or it will melt.
- Lan was born in Vietnam.
- Your phone is on the table.
