PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

1 ) AT - IN - ON

General
Information:

AT ON

We use on for
We use at for a point:
a surface:
on the wall - on the
at the window - at the
ceiling - on the floor - on
entrance - at the door
a page
at the end of the street -
at the station - at the on a cover
top

Have you seen the notice

Bill is waiting for you at
on the notice board?
the bus stop.

IN

We use in for
an enclosed space:
in the garden - in the
house - in London - in
the water
in her bag - in a row - in
a town

There is nobody in the

room. She lives in a
small village.

Special
Information:

AT

1. We say that someone 2. We say at with

 buildings when we
say where the
is at an event: event (film,
concert,...) takes place:

at a party - at a pop
Where were you
concert - at a
yesterday? At the
conference - at a
cinema.
meeting
The meeting took place
Tom is at a party.
at the headquarters.

4. We say at for a place

3. We say at someone's
which is a part of our
house:
journey:

We stopped at a very
We were at Bill's house
nice village. Does the
last Thursday.
train stop at Nashville?

ON

2. We say that a place

1. We use on with small
is on the coast / on a
islands:
river / on a road:
London is on the river
She spent her holiday on
Thames.
a small island.

Portsmouth is on the
south coast of England.

IN

1. We say in when we 2. We usually say in

talk about a building with towns and
itself. villages:
The rooms of Tom's
His parents live in York.
house are small.

Note these expressions:

AT
at home - at work - at school - at university - at
college - at the station - at an airport - at the
seaside - at sea (on a voyage) - at reception - at
the corner of a street - at the back / front of a
building / cinema / group of people, etc. - arrive at
with other places or events

IN
in the newspaper - in bed - in hospital - in prison
- in the street - in the sky - in an armchair (sit) -
in a photograph - in a picture - in a mirror - in the
corner of a room - in the back / front of a car -
arrive in a country or town

ON
on a farm - on the left - on the right - on the
ground floor - on the first, second,... floor - on the
way - on the chair (sit) - on the radio - on
television - on a horse - on the corner of a street -
on the back / front of a letter / piece of paper etc.

2) TO - INTO - BY

TO INTO

We say go / come /
We say go into / come
travel / fly / walk /
into etc. = enter a room
return / drive / have
/ building etc.:
been etc. to a place or
event:
Last year we flew to
He opened the door and
London. We went to
went into the room.
work at seven.

BY

We say by to say how

we travel:
We went to Paris by
plane. I usually go to
work by bike / by car /
by underground / by bus

BUT:
we say on foot
 we cannot use by if you
say my car / the
train / a taxi
Then use in for taxis and
cars.
Then use on for bike /
public transport

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
Fill in at, on or in

1. The headquarters of the United Nations is

New York.

2. In the most countries people drive the right.

3. I usually buy a newspaper my way to work.

4. Last year we had a lovely skiing holiday the

Swiss Alps.

5. San Francisco is the west coast of the United

States.

6. She spends most of the day sitting the

window.

7. The report about the accident was the front

page of the newspaper.

8. In the theatre we had seats the front row.

9. Write the name and address the front page of

the envelope.

10. It's dangerous to play football the streets.

 11. I'll meet you the corner of the street at 10.

12. We got stuck in a traffic jam the way to the

airport.

13. Look at the horses that field.

14. the end of the street is a path to our house.

15. Do you want sugar your coffee?

Fill in at, on or in

1. Her brother lives a small town the south coast of Spain.

2. The sports results are the back page of the paper.

3. They got married Birmingham.

4. Vienna is the river Danube.

5. His office is the third floor.

6. Tom is sitting an armchair.

7. The picture is the wall.

8. We meet the station at 7.

9. She was ill and stayed bed.

10. Are there any good films the cinema this week?

11. We went to see a play the National Theatre.

12. She is still hospital and recovers from her holiday.

13. We were sea for ten weeks.

14. Because of delay we had to wait for three hours the airport.

15. I didn't see her the party.

Fill in at, on, in, to or by

1. We decided not to go car.

2. She studied Paris for two weeks.

3. The exhibition the art gallery finished last Sunday.

4. I saw Ken Dave's wedding.

5. Linda is a student Cambridge University.

6. After some years he arrived back Scotland.

7. The train arrives platform 3.

8. What time did you arrive the hotel?

9. Turn left the traffic lights.

10. When are you going Greece?

11. He was tired and went bed

12. The train stopped every station.

13. I saw Bill this morning. He was a bus which passed me.

14. I missed the bus and had to go foot.

15. The easiest way to go there is underground.