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17 LENGUA EXTRANJERA
INGLÉS
Location in Space: Place, Direction and
Distance.
27-14162-13

Temario 1993
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1. Location in Space
1.1. Prepositions of Place

1.2. “At-type”, “on-type” and “in-type” Prepositions

1.3. Other Prepositions of Spatial Relationship

2. Direction
2.1. Prepositions of Direction: “to”, “on(to)” and “in(to)”

2.2. Passage

2.3. Movement with Direction

2.4. Repeated Motion

2.5. Orientation

3. Distance

4. Other Ways of Providing Information on Location

4.1. Adverbs

4.2. Noun Phrases

4.3. Adverbial Clauses

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INTRODUCTION

In this unit we will study the notion of space. This concept refers to the location of
the verbal action. It indicates the place where the action occurs: the fixed position
where someone or something is, the place they are going to or coming from, or
the direction they are moving in.
Location in space is usually expressed using a prepositional phrase as an adjunct.
We will see that other constructions may be used to convey this idea. However,
taken into account that the main one is still the prepositional phrase, we will
start taking a closer look to the headword of these phrases (prepositions) which
play such an important role in the expression of the spatial notion. Later, we will
consider other possible structures that carry out the same function. Afterwards,
we will concentrate on the different aspects implicit to this notion (place, direction
and distance) and we will take a closer look to each one of these three concepts.
Finally, we will reflect on the importance of these grammatical notions in the EFL
learning process, as well as on the different possibilities to present the studied
concepts to our students.

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1 Location in Space

1.1. Prepositions of Place

As it was said in the introduction, prepositions play a key role in the expression of the spatial notion
(though some other types of words like the adverbs here, there, somewhere, anywhere and everywhere
are also very commonly used to convey spatial location).
A preposition is a word which opens up the possibilities of saying more about a thing or an action.
Indeed, prepositions do no have a lexical meaning, like nouns or verbs; instead, they convey a
structural meaning or function as content words.
Most prepositions are single words, although there are some that consist of more than one word
(out of, in between). They are closely related to adverbs, and actually in many cases, both prepositions
and adverbs share the same form.
The following prepositions are used to specify position:

aboard among between near through

about around beyond near to under
above astride by next to underneath
across at close by off up
against away from close to on upon
ahead of before down on top of with
all over behind in opposite within
along below in between out of
alongside beneath in front of outside
amidst beside inside past

1.2. “At-type”, “on-type” and “in-type” Prepositions

The choice of preposition is often determined by the way we see an object: as a point in space,
as a line, as a surface, as an area or volume, etc. According to this point of view, we establish three
main groups of prepositions: «at-type», «on-type» and «in-type» prepositions. We will now present a
diagram which represents the most important spatial relations expressed by these three groups.

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POSITIVE NEGATIVE
DESTINATION POSITION DESTINATION POSITION
POINT To At (away) from Away from
(«at-type») ----- * * * ----- *
LINE OR SURFACE On (to) On Off Off
(«on-type») __________ __________ ___________
AREA OR VOLUME in(to) In Out of Out of
(«in-type)

As we can see in the chart above, there is a cause and effect relationship between the notions of
position and destination:
I went to school, so now, I am at school
She stepped into the house, so now, she is in the house

Some prepositions convey a negative meaning:

My parents are out of the country (they are not in the country)
The bottle if off the table (it is not on the table)

Prepositional phrases of position usually occur with stative verbs (be, lie, stand, etc.), whereas
prepositional phrases of destination normally go with dynamic verbs (come, move, go, etc.).

XX «AT-TYPE» PREPOSITIONS
The preposition «at» indicates a point in the space. By using this preposition we do not consider
the dimensions of the given place, but we just concentrate on the fixed point this place occupies in
relation to a bigger area:
You were at the airport the other day
Are you going to the station?

In the cases shown in the example «the airport» and «the station» are considered as mere points in
space, and their physical proportions do not matter to the meaning conveyed by this sentence. We
refer to the particular location of a place and not to the dimensions of this place. For this reason,
many names of places are normally used with this type of prepositions to indicate their physical
situation in space. All of them are seen as a point on a map, regardless how big there may be.
„„ At + place: at the cinema, at the theatre, at school, at church, at the bank, etc.
„„ At + specific place: at Buckingham Palace, at Barajas airport, etc.
„„ At + specific address including the house number and name: at 10, Downing Street, at 58, Leicester
Square, etc.
«At» is not normally used with names of villages, towns and cities, since they are rarely considered
as a point in space.

XX «ON-TYPE» PREPOSITIONS
The preposition «on» considers the space as a line or a surface. Width and depth are not even taken
into account.

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„„ We use «on» to show position on a horizontal or vertical surface:

Our cat is sitting on the mat
Our neighbour’s cat is on the roof

„„ We also use «on» to indicate position on a surface, (shelf, floor, ceiling, etc. Streets and roads are
also considered as a line or a flat surface):
I used to live on Kingsley Street
A Chinese lantern was hanging on the ceiling

„„ With directions (left, right, other side, nearside, far side, etc.):
Why do some countries drive on the right and other on the left?
She was standing on the other side of the hall

„„ With levels of a building (first floor, second floor, etc.):

Tania is on the ground-floor and her mother is on the first floor

„„ With the parts of a ship (port side / starboard side / bow / stern, etc.):
CNN is now doing a news report on stern
The battery storage is on starboard side

„„ With the parts of the body (my foot, your leg, his arm, her wrist, etc.):
I have a terrible pain on my back
Helen was bruised and hit on her head

„„ With some types of transport (foot, on a horse, on a bicycle, on a train, etc.):

Do people in England go to work on foot?
She jumped on a train headed for Los Angeles

XX «IN-TYPE» PREPOSITIONS
«In» can be used to describe a surface of an area that is enclosed or surrounded. In this case, the
place is considered as a three-dimensional space, i.e. as provided with volume. The preposition «in»
is used:
„„ With names of countries (France, Australia, America, Canada, etc.):
They bought a house in Italy

„„ With names of towns, villages and cities (London, New York, Toronto, etc.):
The tallest building in the world is in Taipei

„„ With names of certain places (Buckingham Palace, the Louvre, etc.):

The Royal Family lives in Windsor Castle

„„ With geographical regions (Lake District, Galicia, etc.):

Last year, I went fishing in Maine

„„ With streets, roads, avenues (Baker Street, Fifth Avenue, etc.):

Sherlock Holmes is back in Baker Street

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„„ With rooms and places (kitchen, bedroom, living-room):

We will put the table in the dining-room

„„ With parts of the body (my foot, your back, her legs, etc.):
I have a pain in my elbow

„„ With some types of transport (car, train, lorry, etc.):

The man was reading a book in the train

XX OVERLAP BETWEEN TYPES OF PREPOSITION

„„ Both «at-type» and «in-type» prepositions can be used with places which can contain large
numbers of people (cinema, church, stadium, etc.). «At» is used when the activity is the most
important piece of information. «In» emphasizes the position as the most important detail:
I will meet you at the usual restaurant
They met in the foyer of the Royal Theatre

In the case of cities, the use of «at» means we see the city as a point on a map. «In», though, implies
that we imagine the city as three-dimensional place. Large cities prefer «in», while «at» is reserved for
small areas and means «at this point» rather than inside.
„„ Both «at-type» and «to-type» prepositions can be used in some contexts. «At» takes the place of
«to» when the object acts as a «target».
They tossed a stone at the bird (with the intention of hurting the bird)
He threw a stone to me (so that I could catch it)

„„ Both «on-type» and «in-type» can be used for types of transport and parts of the body. «On» is
used when the part of the body/ type of transport is the most important detail. «In», though, is
used when position is the most important piece of information:
Mary has a cut on her left arm – part of the body
Susan has broken a bone in her wrist – position

In other cases, the choice of «on» or «in» marks the difference between surface and volume:
I was lying on the beach watching the sun go down
We have rented an apartment in the beach

1.3. Other Prepositions of Spatial Relationship

So far, we have learnt how to indicate a simple position within space. However, prepositions may also
express the relative positions of two objects or groups of objects. We will present a visual diagram
with the most common prepositions that convey this type of notion:
Above: There is a lamp above the table
Across: We could see a cat across the bridge
Against: Do not lean against the wall, please
Ahead of: A woman was walking ahead of them
Along: Pedestrians passed along the street

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Among: He stood among the myrtle trees

Around: The child drew a circle around himself
Behind: We took a journey behind the Niagara Falls
Below: There is a shop below the apartments
Beneath: Is there a covered playground beneath the school?
Beside: In this picture, my brother is standing beside me
Between: Here, I am standing between my mother and my father
From: They came from the shop
In front of: The town hall is in front of the bank
Inside: We were inside the castle
Nearby: There is a huge mall nearby my house
Off: The man took his hat off
Out of: Mandy went out of the house
Through: The thief broke into the house through the back door
Toward: Go toward the fireplace
Under: She is hidden under her bed
Within:  You must draw only within the circle

1. What resources does English have in order to express location? What is the most
frequent?
2. What types of place prepositions are distinguished? What does this distinction
base on? Is this distinction always clearcut?
3. What do At-type prepositions indicate? When are they used?
4. What do On-type prepositions express? When are they used?
5. What do In-type prepositions express? When are they used
6. Other prepositions can indicate spatial relationship, especially for relative location.
Mention at least 10 of them.

You can look up further information on prepositions in unit 18.

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2 Direction

2.1. Prepositions of Direction: “to”, “on(to)”

and “in(to)”

As it was mentioned when it was said in the section devoted to the prepositions of place, some
prepositions of direction may also fall into the same classification we already presented (see diagram
on page four: «at-type», «on-type» and «in-type» prepositions). Thus, «to», «on(to)», and «in(to)»
correspond to the prepositions «at», «in», and «on». Each pair can be defined by the same spatial
relations of point, line/ surface, or area/ volume.
„„ The basic preposition of a direction is «to».
«To»: signifies orientation toward a goal and implies movement in the direction of the
destination.
Tamara went back to her house

„„ The other two prepositions of direction are compounds formed by adding «to» to the
corresponding prepositions of location. This preposition determines the meaning of the
preposition of direction.
On + To = onto; it means movement toward a surface
In + To= into; it indicates movement toward the interior of a volume
(«To» is part of the directional preposition toward, and the two mean about the same thing).
„„ With many verbs of motion, «on» and «in» have a directional meaning and can be used along with
«onto» and «into».
This is the reason why we put «to» inside parentheses, showing that it is somewhat optional with
the compound prepositions. Thus, the following sentences are roughly synonymous:
Put the rubbish in / into the bin, please
The fruit fell on / onto the ground

To the extent that these pairs do differ, the compound preposition conveys the completion of an
action, while the simple preposition points to the position of the subject as a result of that action.
This distinction helps us understand how directional and spatial prepositions are related: they
stand in the relationship of cause and effect.
The fruit fell on(to) the ground – The fruit is on the ground
He put the rubbish in(to) the bin – The rubbish is in the bin

XX Uses of «to»
«To» may occur with several classes of verbs. We shall only consider the cases when it is used as a
preposition of place. Then, it occurs with verbs of movement: move, go, transfer, walk/ run/ swim/ ride/
drive/ fly, travel, etc.
Except for transfer, all these verbs can take «toward» as well as «to». However, «to» suggests movement
toward a specific destination, while «toward» suggests movement in a general direction, without
necessarily arriving at a destination:
The giant went toward the neighbourhood
She took me to the train station

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XX Uses of «onto»
«Onto» can generally be replaced by «on» with verbs of motion.
I fell on(to) the floor
The dog climbed on(to) the couch

Some verbs of motion express the idea that the subject makes itself or some physical object to be
situated in a certain place. Of these verbs, some take only «on». Others take both «on» and «onto»,
with the latter being preferred by some speakers.
I am going to hang this picture on the wall (not onto the wall)
Move the car on(to) the driveway

„„ There are a number of verb-preposition combinations which are formally like «add on» but have
the meaning «of continuing or resuming an action» when used in the imperative mood. Note that
all of them have the force of a command. Except for «hang», which takes both «on» and «onto»,
they all occur only with «on» (hang on(to), carry on, sail on, dream on, lead on, etc.).
Carry on moving!

XX Uses of «into»
With verbs of motion, «into» and «in» are interchangeable except when the preposition is the last
word or occurs directly before an adverbial of time, manner or frequency.
In this case only «in» (or «inside») can be used.
The children went into the room
They went in / inside

Verbs expressing stationary position take only «on» or «in» with the ordinary meanings of those
prepositions.
If a verb allows the object of the preposition to be omitted, the construction may have an idiomatic
meaning.
The lawyer is in his office
The lawyer is in

2.2. Passage

Some prepositions can convey the idea of movement towards a certain point, and the away from
that place: «across», «through» and «past».
He went across the river (he arrived to the river and crossed it)

2.3. Movement with Direction

The prepositions «up», «down», «along», «across», «around» usually occur with verbs of motion and
express movement with reference to an axis or directional path.
«Up» and «down» refer to a vertical direction, while «along» and «across» to a horizontal one.
The spider climbed up the wall
The little child walked along the street

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2.4. Repeated Motion

We can convey the notion that an action is repeated several times by linking two prepositions with
«and»:
Our neighbours have been going in and out their house
The goat went up and down the riverbank looking for food

2.5. Orientation

Most prepositions can be used in a static sense of orientation. This leads us to take into account a
third factor. «Beyond» is the best example of this type of preposition. Other prepositions such as
«over», «past», «across» and «through» can combine the meaning of «beyond» with more specific
information of dimension-type:
The castle was beyond the city walls
We could make up the lions beyond the riverbank

1. Direction can be expressed by means of prepositions. However, there are some

different nuances in its expression. What are they? How are they conveyed?
2. What is the difference between in/into and on/onto?
3. Define the notion of ‘passage’.
4. What do we understand as ‘orientation’ when dealing with direction? What
prepositions do carry out this meaning?

As mentioned, unit 18 also deals with prepositions.

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3 Distance
In the previous sections the focus was on the concepts of fixed position and direction. In this one, a
closer look will be taken to the notion of distance, which is directly related to concepts of proximity
and remoteness or, in other words, to the notions of far and near.
Distance could be defined as the degree or amount of separation between two points, lines, surfaces,
or objects.
The terms «near» and «far» can be used to describe the proximal and distal separation of one thing
to another. The preposition «near» behaves like any other English preposition, such as in and on,
whose use also depends on both geometrical and non-geometrical features.
Both «near» and «far» are used to convey indefinite distance. The use of «near» is normally associated
with a small inter-object distance, while the use of far corresponds to larger distances. However, near
and far are relative notions. For example, it is quite acceptable to say that Mercury is near the Sun,
referring to a distance of million of kilometres, but it is equally appropriate to say that the chair is near
the table, referring to a much smaller distance.
Our house is near the park
This is very far

As we can see in the example, distance can be expressed in absolute terms (as in the second
sentence), or in relation to two points in space (as in the first example, house and park). «Near»
and «far» can be used to express distance in English, but they would be the extremes in a scale to
indicate relative distance. Indeed, they can be modified to express different degrees of proximity or
distance. Other expressions can also be used to convey relative distance.
The airport is rather/extremely/too far from Tokyo
The camera is set at a medium distance from the actors

In all these cases, the expressions of distance to be used depend completely on our personal point
of view, and could vary notably from a given speaker to another. Actually, these expressions are
sometimes used to convey the speaker’s mood or feeling, and not only a particular distance.
However, it is also possible to be extremely precise when we want to express distance. In this case,
we will use the conventional units to indicate distance (centimetres, metres, kilometres, or feet, miles,
etc.). Once we now the exact distance we want to indicate, several different expressions to indicate
this concept can be used.
„„ It is possible to indicate the actual distance before a prepositional phrase with «from» or «away
from»:
The beach is barely six miles from the city centre
The ball is a few feet away from than tree

„„ Distance can also be expressed in terms of time taken to travel:

The school is only 15 minutes from here
He lives three hours away from civilization

The means of transport is sometimes indicated to be even more precise:

Don’t worry; it is about ten minutes’ walk from the railway station
Jane’s house is less than half an hour’s drive from here

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„„ When we want to indicate both where something is and how far from another object or place it
is, distance can be stated before the following prepositions
above below down past
along beneath inside unde
behind beyond outside up
The hut is several miles behind the village
The mountain is 5.200 feet above the sea

„„ Distance can also be stated before prepositional phrases including «left» and «right» or points of
the compass (north, south, east, west):
My uncle lives 30 miles to the north of London
Our new house is a few kilometres to the east of Madrid

1. What is ‘distance’? What are the main resources for expressing it in English?
2. To what extent is the expression of distance related to quantifiers and the
expression of quantity?

The expression of distance is frequently done by means of quantifiers and measures.

For more on these subjects, see unit 13.

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4 Other Ways of Providing Information on Location

In the previous sections the focus was placed on prepositions and prepositional phrases as the most
common vehicles to express the notion of situation in English. However, as we pointed out at the
beginning of the unit, there are other possible ways to convey these notions.

4.1. Adverbs

As well as prepositional phrases, adverbs can be used as an adjunct to give information about
place:
She would not come near
I have left my car there

Indeed, in many cases the same word can be used as a preposition. Simple prepositional adverbs are
adverbs which behave like prepositions but omit the complement. They function in the same way
as prepositions but carry out a different syntactic function within the sentence. The main difference
is that adverbs can stand alone on their own, whereas prepositions cannot:
The limb was severed below the elbow
This information is summarized below

Most place prepositions (except the «at-type») have a corresponding adverb with which they usually
share the same meaning.
Simple prepositional adverbs commonly used for position and direction are:

above by home over up

along down in past within
anywhere east (and other compass points) locally round
around elsewhere near somewhere
away everywhere off there
back far opposite through
below here out under

Adverbs which only indicate direction are:

aside forwards outwards upwards

backwards inwards right
downwards left sideways

4.2. Noun Phrases

Some verbs of position and movement are followed by noun groups referring to places instead of
by prepositional or adverbial phrases:

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The thief approached the bank

They approached the house

Besides using a noun group to refer to a place, it is also possible to use the name of the place to
indicate its precise location:
London is a fascinating town
The Isle of Man is their favourite holiday destination

Most place names are singular nouns, although some look like plural nouns (the Netherlands). Some
of them, though, especially those referring to groups of islands or mountains are plural nouns:
New York became the world’s cultural reference
The Andes split the country down the middle

4.3. Adverbial Clauses

Another way for describing position is through adverbial subordinate clauses. They are introduced
by «where(ever)». Not all clauses introduced by «where» are adverbials, since they can function as
words of relative clauses as well:
I go where(ever) I want

Non-finite clauses can also be used to convey spatial location. Indeed, their meaning is similar to an
adverbial finite clause; the only difference is to be found in their structure:
Where(ever) seen, famous people are harassed by their fans
Where(ever) possible, green areas should be expanded

Adverb clauses of place convey the same information as the rest of spatial expressions. However,
in some cases the use of adverb clauses is more appropriate, since they enable us to express more
complex relationships:
The soldiers go where the general goes
The soldiers go somewhere (to some place)
The soldiers go there (to this place)

1. What is the difference between prepositions and adverbs when dealing with
location?
2. Can adverbial clauses express location? Justify your answer.

To read further on adverbs and its different meanings and uses, see units 13, 14, 15,
18, 25 and 26.
For more information on Nouns and Noun Phrases, see unit 13.
Relative clauses are dealt with in unit 14.

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CONCLUSION

Location in space is certainly extremely important in the articulation of discourse,

since it accounts for essential information about the setting of the verbal action. For
this reason, we must help our students to master the main mechanisms to convey
place, direction and distance, so that they are able to recognize and reproduce the
different constructions that express spatial location. This will not be an easy task for
us, since there are significant differences between spatial expressions in Spanish
and English. Indeed, the mastery of spatial prepositions has proved to be one of
the most difficult aspects to grasp for foreign students of English.
However, this particular notion is extremely visual, and we must take advantage
of this to help our students understand the underlying mechanisms inherent to
the expression of location. Therefore, all types of visual materials are more than
welcome when we explain this particular notion. We must take advantage of all
the amazing possibilities the new technologies offer us, and bring them to our
students.
As usual, the basic source for our study will be real texts where the constructions
we want our students to learn are present. Then, we will isolate some of the items
and provide our students with the theoretical aspects governing their use. Later, we
may as well use games in internet or other visual material to ensure our students
assimilate the presented structures.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

REFERED BIBLIOGRAPHY

HUDDELSTON, R.: Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
This textbook provides a thorough and precise account of all the major areas of English grammar. The book is
written for students who may have no previous knowledge of linguistics and little familiarity with «traditional»
grammar.
JESPERSEN, O.: Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles. London: Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1973.
This is one of the most consulted reference grammar together with the Quirk grammar.
KINGSLEY, A.: The King’s English: A Guide to Modern Usage. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
Modestly presented as a volume «in which some modern linguistic problems are discussed and perhaps
settled,» Amis’s usage guide is a worthy companion, witty and intelligent.
LEECH, G.: A Communicative Grammar of English. Longman, 1975.
This book is designed for advanced ESL students (at the university level), though it may also be useful to native
speakers.
QUIRK, R.: A University Grammar of English. London: Longman, 1973.
The English reference grammar per excellence. Essential.
SÁNCHEZ BENDITO, F.: Gramática inglesa. Madrid: Alhambra Longman, 1975. Traditional English grammar
written in Spanish.
SINCLAIR, J.: Collins Cobuild English Grammar. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 2005.
An authoritative reference tool for advanced students and teachers of English. It provides a clear a detailed
picture of modern English grammar.
SWAM, M.: Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985.
A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English.
THOMSON, A.J. and MARTINET, A.V.: A Practical English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.
This book is a classic intermediate grammar for foreign learners. It is the most widely used book of its kind. It is
useful because it presents clear explanations to difficult problems of the language.
ZANDVOORT, R.W.: A Handbook of English Grammar. London: Longman, 1975.
Another important reference grammar of the English language.

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SUMMARY/OUTLINE

Location in Space: Place, Direction and Distance.

1. Location in Space 2. Direction

1.1. Prepositions of Place 2.1. Prepositions of Direction: «to»,

„„ One of the most important ways to express location:
«on(to)» and «in(to)»
Prepositions (above, across, along, among, beyond, near, „„ To, onto, into = They have a similar use than at, on and it,
under, etc.). respectively.
„„ Prepositions: No lexical meaning.
She went back to school (at school) – She fell onto the
„„ Prepositions of place: They indicate spatial location.
ground (on the ground)
„„ The choice of prepositions – Depending on the speaker’s
point of view. She put the letter into a box (in a box).

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
2.2. Passage
DESTINATION POSITION DESTINATION POSITION
„„ Movement towards a certain point: across, through, past. He
POINT To At (away) from Away from went across the river.
(«at-type») ----- * * * ----- *

LINE OR On (to) On Off Off 2.3. Movement with direction

SURFACE __________ ________ ___________
„„ Up, down, along, across, around. The spider climbed up the
(«on-type»)
wall.
AREA OR
VOLUME in(to) In Out of Out of
2.4. Repeated motion
(«in-type)
„„ In and out the house.
„„ Position and Destination are directly related:

I went to school, so now, I am at school 2.5. Orientation

„„ Beyond, over, past, etc. It was beyond the city walls.
1.2. «At-type», «on-type» and «in-type»
Prepositions
„„ «At-type» prepositions: Indicate a point in space: You were 3. Distance
at the airport.
„„ Concepts of «near» and «far». How far something is?
„„ «On-type» prepositions: Consider space as a line or surface:
„„ From, away from: This is very far from here.
Our cat is sitting on the mat.
„„ «In-type» prepositions: Describe a surface of an area that is
enclosed or surrounded: They bought a house in Italy.
4. Other Ways of Providing
„„ Other prepositions of spatial relationship (above, across,
against, etc.): Do not lean against the wall, please. Information on Location

1.3. Other Prepositions of Spatial 4.1. Adverbs

Relationship
„„ Above, by, in, over, below, etc. The information is summarized
„„ Abobe, across, against, etc.: below.
Do not lean against the wall, please.
4.2. Noun Phrases
„„ The thief approached the bank.

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4.3. Adverbial Clauses
„„ I go where(ever) I want.
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EVALUATION

1. We use «At-type» prepositions when

a. We refer to the general location of a place, and to its dimensions .
b. We consider the space as a line or a surface.
c. We refer to the particular location of a place, and not to its dimensions.
d. Talking about geographical regions.

2. We use «On-Type» prepositions when

a. Talking about rooms and places.
b. Talking about specific places.
c. Talking about parts of buildings.
d. Talking about parts of the body.

3. We use «In-type» prepositions when we talk about

a. Cars, trains, lorries.
b. Directions.
c. Parts of a ship.
d. Parts of the body.

4. Both «at-type» and «in-type» prepositions can be used with places which can contain large numbers
of people, cinema, church, stadium, etc.).
a. False. Only «in-type « prepositions can be used in these cases.
b. True, but they show a little difference in meaning.
c. True, they are absolutely equivalent.
d. False. Only «at-type» prepositions can be used in these cases.

5. «Across», «through» and «past» express

a. Movement with direction.
b. Repeated motion.
c. Passage.
d. position.

6. «Across», «through» and «past» can also express

a. Orientation.
b. Movement with direction.
c. Distance.
d. Repeated motion.

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7. Which of these prepositions can also be used when indicating where something is and the distance
to other object?
a. Above, below, down, away
b. Above, below, beyond, beneath
c. Down, under, up, ago
d. Below, beyond, inside, outside

8. Which of these words are prepositions and adverbs?

a. Back, below, here, under
b. Around, near, somewhere, along
c. Above, by, over, home
d. In, past, through, under

9. Which of these adverbs can indicate only direction?

a. Aside, forwards, above, outwards
b. Aside, backwards, inwards, up
c. Forwards, backwards, left, right
d. Away, aside, inwards, right

10. Both «on-type» and «-in-type» prepositions can be used for types of transport and parts of the body.
a. «On» is used when the part of the body/type of transport is the most important detail.
b. «In» is used when the part of the body/type of transport is the most important detail.
c. «On» is used when position is the most important piece of information
d. False. «In-type» prepositions cannot be used for parts of the body.

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