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Are you ready to learn today? Great! Where is your pencil? Is it on the table? Is it under your notebook? Is it in your pencil bag? Where is it?
Let’s learn how to answer that question using prepositions of place. Today we will focus on four prepositions of place: in, on, at, under. By the end of this lesson you will be able to answer my question: where is your pencil? Plus so much more!
Let’s get learning.
How to use the preposition of place “in”
We use “in” when one thing is inside another thing. Think of a box. If something is inside the box, it is in the box.
We also use the preposition of place “in” to talk about a place like a country, a city, or a town. We also use “in” for rooms in the house.
Example sentence with “in”
- The keys are in my bag.
- There is milk in the fridge.
- She is in the car.
- I live in New York.
- She works in an office.
- They are in the kitchen.
How to use the preposition of place “on”
We use “on” when something sits directly above the surface of another thing. If something is touching the top of a table, we say it is on the table. We also use “on” for transport like buses, trains, and planes.
Example sentences with “on”
- The books are on the table.
- The picture is on the wall.
- The cup is on the desk.
- I am on the bus.
- I am flying on a plane.
How to use the preposition of place “at”
We use “at” to talk about a specific place or a point.
We also use “at” not “in” with places like school, work, or home.
Example sentences with “at”
- I am at the door.
- He is at the bus stop.
- We are at the restaurant.
- She is at school.
- I am at work.
- They are at home.
How to use the preposition of place “under”
We use under when something is below or beneath something else.
Example sentences with “under”
- The cat is under the table.
- The shoes are under the bed.
- There is a ball under the chair.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Place
If a thing does not have sides then nothing can be “in” it. For example, things are always on the table. We could only use “in” for a table if the table has a drawer.
❌Wrong: The cat is in the table. (This means the cat is inside of the table, which is not possible!)
✅Right: The cat is on the table.
While it makes sense that we go “in” the bus because it has four sides, we actually say on the bus. Remember to always use “on” for any transportation.
❌Wrong: I am in the bus.
✅Right: I am on the bus.
Using “in” with specific places that need “at”. Sometimes we just have to remember that certain places go with “at” and not “in”.
❌Wrong: I am in the restaurant. (Only use “in” if you are focusing on being inside, not outside the restaurant.)
✅Right: I am at the restaurant.
If you need more help learning preposition of place in English, watch my video here:
And if you’d like one to one help from an experienced English teacher, book a lesson with me today!
