in and on (place) on the ceiling

in the box l- onthewall

on the floor

We use in with 3-dimensional spaces like boxes, rooms, towns or countries.

We use on with 2-dimensional surfaces like floors, tables, walls or ceilings.
'Where's JoeT' 'ln the kitchen.' There's nothing in the fridge. Tara's in Polond.
Why are all those popers on the floor7 The church has wonderful pointings on the ceiling.
She had photos of all her family on the woll.
People are in clothes. Clothes and jewellery (earrings etc) are on people.
Who is the man in the grey suit? That sweater looks good on you. She had a ring on every finger.
I
l-
ffi eut in in or on. ,&#

1 ............ a bath
ffi
4g

2 ............ a roof 3 ............ a tree

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fEd
4............ atable 5
@
............ a cup

fe,b,
ar,w-4
6........... herarm
@
7 ............ a plate 8 ......... your head 9 ......... your head 10 ..........
ffi a door

We say in o book, in the newspoper, in a story (Bur on a page); in a street.

ls there onything interesting in the paper? Her photo is on poge 4. They live in Park Street.
j
*i-
ffi Put in words from the boxes with in or on.

children's stories / her first finger my diary the office the roof of the car the cupboard

..t*.g.4y.t4.u.e*l:.:l?.ri#r...... animarscantark.
1 Are you free next Tuesday?' 'Just a minute. l'll look
2 ls Sandra ... today?
3 She had a wonderful diamond ring ...........
4 'Where's the salt?'
5 The cat likes to sleep ..........

a little village his T-shirt my pocket a piece of paper the wall your car

6 Don't leave your keys ........... when you get out.

7 .............. ....... it said Aberdeen University Football Clubi
8 She had pictures of pop singers ............... ...... in her room.
9 They live ............ near Belfast.
10 I wrote her address ..... and put it

Note that we say in a car BUT on a bus/troin/plane/ship.

Granny orrived in o taxi, as usuol. I'm leaving on the 4.15 troin.

278 PREPOSITIONS
 Operator
at (place) [9s r----l GW

LONDON Paddington
Ealing Broadway $
Slough
Q 1743
g
'1800 1822
1803
ffi
Maidenhead

ffio
Twyford
**#*q* Reading... dep 1820 1838
$UTTK CINEMA* Tilehurst
****** Pangbourne

5,30 Goring & Streatley

Wailingford m
s@ Cholsey
Didcot Parkway... arr 18&5 153

l'll meet you at the cinemq. The trqin stops ot Slough, Reading and Didcot.

We often use ot to show where something happens - for example, with meeting places or points on a journey.
I'll see you this evening at Sarah's house. You have to change planes ot Korachi.
I saw Linda waiting at the bus stop. Turn left at the next corner.
We often use at with words for things that people do, or the places where they do them.
at a football match at breakfast, lunch etc at a restaurqnt ot work ot the office
at the theatre ot the cinema at the station ot a pqrty ot (the) college/university
.r Put in words from the box with af.

a Chinese restaurant a theatre Birmingham breakfast the cinema the crossroads

the hotel bar the party the station the traffic lights / work

Paul crashed his car because he didn't stop ..?.!.!hg .lf.qffyy.!1gY.!.s.-..............

1 Are there any good films .......... .... this week?
2 Her train was terribly late - I spent hours waiting
3 Will you be ............. at Mike's house on Saturday?
4 We had a really good meal in Park Street last night.
5 I saw my first Shakespeare play in a small town in lreland.
6 The boss doesn't let us take personal phone calls
7 Helen never says anything because she's still asleep.
8 There isn't a direct train. You change
9 I'll meet you downstairs .............. at 6.00.
10 'Where's the car park?' 'Turn right ..........

We often use ot with the top, the bottom, the side, the beginning and the end.
My room's ot the top of the house. Begin at the beginning.

. Put in at the top, at the bottom etc.

'l Their house is down ......... of the hill.
2 I never have any money .... ofthe month.
3 I stopped for a minute .. of the stairs to have a rest.
4 The best fruit is always ... of the tree, where you can't get it.
5 Maria wasn't there .. of the lesson; she came in late.

Sometimes in and at are both possible. We prefer ct when we are thinking about the activity - what we
do in the place - and in when we think about the place itself.
We had lunch at the station restaurant. lt was very hot in the big dining room.

. For expresslons with no article like ot breokfost, ot work, see page 1 62.

lill! :I:S:,!:'-{1. i li:lll: t rl|:ilrl ll;:ri illlrl

'. 'jlr r.::.;rli:ii,: ,;11 :ir: r;r 279
trrrrrt rli'.,
other prepositions of place
above against behind between by in front of near opposite under

Anna is sitting between Tim and John. Come and sit by me. We camped by the lake.

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ri
.) 'i-*.r' ?
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;..i o" ;il

CANADA s
/.J^+
):"

Montreal:J' "-';.
o,:"r: ji'to-b
\ "ur
-' "Y"fi

u.s.A. ":1," .t miles

o{ '000
Montreal is in eastern Canada, near Ottqwa. I left my bicycle ogoinst the shop window.

Andy

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.

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Joe's car is parked in front of our house, Lucy is in front of Beth. Andy is opposite Mike.
There's a bus stop opposite our house. Beth is behind Lucy.

tlr\
r ,\ ")v\
it

The dog is hiding under the table. The plane is flying obove the clouds.

280 PREPOSITIONS
 Choose the correct prepositions.
* lusuallysit..:'.:.i........awindowinclass,solcanlookoutiflgetbored.(behind,by,infrontofl
'1 up
There was a big bird flying high the trees. (above, against, opposite)
2 They live in a beautiful old house a river. (above, by, under)
3 There's a big clock the door of the station . (above, against, between)
4 I sat down ............... Marion and looked into her eyes. (above, behind, by)
5 You can park your car ............... the house. (against, behind, between)
6 l'll meet you at the station the clock. (aqainst, between, under)
7 The door wouldn't stay shut, so I put a chair it. (above, against, near)

Put in the correct prepositions.

1 5he put the money at the bottom of her suitcase, ............... her clothes.
2 Our house is a bank and a supermarket, and just ............... the police station.
3 Please don't put your bicycle our wall.
4 Sorry we're late - we were driving a slow bus all the way.
5 lwork in a small town ............... Birmingham.
6lnthetheatrelcouldn'tseeanythingbecausetherewasaverytall man...............me.
7 Weusuallyhavelunchinalittlecaf6...............theschool,aboutfiveminutes'walkaway.
Look at the picture and choose the correct prepositions.
b above / nearlhe travel agent 5 in front of / behind the restaurant
1 opposite / in front of the National Bank 6 opposite / under the car
2 against / between the two women 7 against / opposite the window
3 above / behind the child 8 behind / between the banks
4 near / by the travel agent 9 by / opposite the supermarket

i$

m
)

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example / m, don't) and full PREPOSITIONS 281
forms (for example lom, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct