Prepositions of place: in, on, at, next to
Introduction
The laptop is on the desk. The cup is next to the laptop. The flowers are in a vase.
Definition
We use the prepositions 'in', 'on', 'at' and 'next to' to for location and position.
Uses
| Uses | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| in | An enclosed space | in a box, a bag, a room, a cupboard, a cup |
| Towns, cities, states, countries, continents etc. | in Birmingham, Kent, California, Japan, Asia | |
| Other large areas | in the countryside, a neighbourhood, a district, a park, a car park, a garden, the world | |
| Roads | in a street, a road, an avenue, the High Street, Bingley Road [UK] | |
| Pictures and documents | in a picture, a photo, a painting, a report, an email, a contract, a newspaper, a magazine,a book, a film | |
| Some (smaller) forms of transport | in a car, a taxi, a helicopter, an open boat | |
| on | A surface - horizontal or vertical | on the table, the wall, a shelf, a screen, a plate, a face, a head, page 2, the front cover of the book, the menu |
| Transport and travel | on a bus, train, a boat, a ship, a flight, a trip, a journey, a picnic, a bike ride, a break, holiday | |
| Some locations | on the left, the right, the side, the coast, the beach, the 2nd floor on an island, a farm, a college campus on a road/street/avenue etc. [mainly US] on a motorway, the High Street, Oxford Street [i.e. main roads] |
|
| on (the) top of | At the highest point of something tall or high | on top of a cupboard, wardrobe, a hill, a mountain |
| at | Some locations that are buildings | at the cinema, the theatre, the pub, a restaurant, work, home, school, university |
| Some other locations | at the beach, the lake | |
| A point on a journey | at a junction, traffic lights, a corner, a bus stop | |
| An address | at 88 Bingley Road, 10 Downing Street | |
| Positions | at the back, the front, the top, the bottom, the end |
'In’ and ‘out’
As adverbs, these can be used alone to mean 'here' or 'not here':
- “Can I speak to Jack, please?”
- “Sorry, he's not in today. Can I take a message?” [not at work]
- I'm the only person at home today. Everyone else is out. [not at home]
- We're going* out later, maybe to the cinema; we're not sure yet.
- I didn't hear you come in last night; what time was it?
