PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE:

by Carmen Luisa Pérez Amaro

In – place:

1. For position inside large areas, e.g. countries, cities, regions, large islands…

2. For position in three-dimensional space, e.g. a room, a building, a park…

3. Transport – to talk about private cars and taxis.

4. Addresses – if we just give the name of the street.

In – place:

1. For position inside large areas, e.g. countries, cities, regions, large islands…:

I live in Spain.

I grew up in Puerto de la Cruz.

My parents live in New Zealand now.

In – place:

2. For position in three-dimensional space, e.g. a room, a building, a park…

She’s in her bedroom/ in a museum.

There is some sugar in the cupboard.

He’s in the garden.

I walked in the park all afternoon.

Who’s that up in the tree?

I love to bathe in the river.

In – place:

3. Transport – to talk about private cars and taxis:

I saw Ana in a new Volkswagen yesterday.

Come on, we're late - get in the car.

They had to send me home in a taxi.

In – place:

4. Addresses – if we just give the name of the street:

She lives in Queen Anne Street.

On – place:1. For position in a small area, e.g. a small island.2. For position on a surface: on a table, on a page, on

a shelf, on the floor, on the roof, on the ceiling, on the wall, on the balcony, on a lake, on the beach…

3. For position on a line, e.g. river, coast, road…4. For location by a body of water, e.g. a lake, sea.5. Transport – to talk about travel using a bus, plane,

train, underground, motorcycle, bicycle, ship, horse... and when you go walking (on foot).

6. Addresses – in American English if we just give the name of the street.

On – place:

1. For position in a small area, e.g. a small island:

They live on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

No cars are allowed on the island.

On – place:2. For position on a surface: on a table, on a

page, on a shelf, on the floor, on the roof, on the ceiling, on the wall, on the balcony, on a lake, on the beach…

Leave your things on the table over there.The map is on page 43.She was sitting on her father’s shoulders.I live in a flat on the fourth floor.We spent the afternoon in a boat on the lake.

On – place:

3. For position on a line, e.g. river, coast, road…

We went on a cruise on the River Seine.

I used to live in a small village on the coast.

There’s a good restaurant on Glasgow road.

On – place:

4. For location by a body of water, e.g. a lake, sea:

Bowness is on Lake Windermere (by lake Windermere).

On – place:5. Transport – to talk about travel using a

bus, plane, train, underground, motorcycle, bicycle, ship, horse... and when you go walking (on foot):

I managed to sleep on the plane.I got on the first bus that came along.I came on my bike.We went to France on the ferry.It'd be quicker to get there on foot.

On – place:

6. Addresses – in American English if we just give the name of the street:

She lives on Queen Anne Street.

At – place:

1. For position at a point.

2. With the name of a building when we are interested in the activity that happens there (not in the dimensions of the place), or when we consider it as a point, e.g. at the station, at the airport, at school, at university, at work, at home…

3. With the names of group activites, e.g. at a party, at a meeting, at a match, at a concert…

4. Addresses – if we give the number alone or both the number and name of the street.

At – place:

1. For position at a point:My house is at the third crossroads.

I was waiting at the bus stop.

There's someone at the door.

We'll meet you at the entrance. We use it with cities and place names, when we

are talking about stopping during a journey, i.e. when we consider the place as a point:

The bus stops at Puerto de la Cruz.

At – place:2. With the name of a building when we are interested in the

activity that happens there (not in the dimensions of the place), or when we consider it as a point, e.g. at the station, at the airport, at school, at university, at work, at home…:

There was a security alert at Delhi's international airport.

I was at university from 1992 to 1997.

Is Jessica still at school?

Dad's at work right now.

Is she at the hairdresser’s? No, she’s at her mother’s (= at her mother’s house).

At – place:

3. With the names of group activites, e.g. at a party, at a meeting, at a match, at a concert…

I met him at a party a couple of months ago.

Mrs Squires is at a meeting at the moment. (We can also say in a meeting)

At – place:

4. Addresses – if we give the number alone or both the number and name of the street:

She lives at 64 Queen Anne Street.

I live at number 32.