PREPOSITION OF PLACE
POSITION
1 dimensional space (a point) AT
2 dimensional space (a surface) ON
3 dimensional space (a volume) IN
Exceptions:
- IN the picture – ON television
- Buildings IN in the university
- Institutions AT at university
- Big territories IN – Small territories AT
Higher position:
ON (top of) (direct contact)
OVER (proximity)
ABOVE (vertical relationship)
Lower position:
UNDERNEATH (direct physical contact)
UNDER (no necessarily contact)
BELOW (lowest position)
BENEATH (abstract meaning)
Horizontal position:
IN FRONT OF – OPPOSITE (face to face)
BEHIND
BETWEEN (2) – AMONG (+2)
BESIDE (horizontal proximity) – NEXT TO
DIRECTION DISTANCE
Expressing a goal: FOR: distance not specifed.
TO (a point) the park They walked for a few miles.
ONTO (a surface) the foor
INTO (a volume) the pocket
TO/TOWARDS (reached or not)/(abstract)
Expressing a source:
FROM (a point) school
OFF (a surface) a horse
OUT OF (a volume) a bag
Expressing passage:
PAST (a point) the corner
ACROSS (a surface) the garden
THROUGH (a volume) window
Expressing angle and curve
AROUND the corner
Direction expressed by adverbs
WISE clockwise
WARD homeward
BOUND Northbound