Prepositions of Place and Position

At, in, on, against

We use the prepositions at, in, on and against differently in these ways:

A) At - to show the exact location of a person or thing, or a particular point

EXAMPLES: Joe is at the helm of the boat. (exact location)
The writer’s signature is at the bottom of the page. (a particular point)

B) In - to point to an enclosed area or something which has volume

EXAMPLES: There’s a crack in the mirror. (enclosed area)
There are a lot of beautiful illustrations in this book. (volume)

C) On - to show that a person or thing is in a higher position than something and is touching or covering its
surface.
EXAMPLES: The acrobat is standing on the tightrope. (touching the surface)
The chairman’s report is on page 5. (covering the surface)

D) Against - to show someone or something is next to and touching the surface of something or being
supported by it.
EXAMPLES: I prefer to have my desk against the wall. (next to and touching the wall)
John is leaning against his car. (being supported by the car)

Before, after, on the left/ right, to the left/ right

We use before and after to show which person or thing is closer to us and which is further from us. We use to the
left and to the right to show on which side of a person or thing another person or thing is.

EXAMPLES:
Railway Public Post
station library office

You are here

The railway station is before the public library. The preposition before can
The public library is after the railway station. also be used to mean in
front of.
The railway station is to the left of the public library.
EXAMPLE:
The post office is to the right of the public library.
The little boy stood before
his parents’ guests and sang
Note: If we are standing in front of the public library and facing the road, we would confidently.
describe the position of the railway station and the post office in this way:

The railway station is on my right.

The post office is on my left.

Across, along, opposite

We use the preposition across, along and opposite in these ways:

A) Across - to point to the other side of a line or space

EXAMPLE: Helen lives across the road from me.
B) Along - to point to someone or something located next to a space which has a long thin shape, for example a
road or a river.
EXAMPLE: Larry lives along Smith Street.

C) Opposite - to point to someone or something directly facing a person or a space

EXAMPLES: Kim sat opposite John during dinner.
(the table is between them)

Jenny’s favourite bakery is opposite a toy shop.

(the road is between the two shops)

In the expression the opposite of, the opposite is a noun, not a preposition. The opposite of is
used to show that someone or something is very different from the person or thing compared
with.
EXAMPLES:
David is the opposite of James. James likes to be with people but David prefers to be by himself.
The word ‘happy’ is the opposite of the word ‘sad’.

Inside, outside
We use in or inside to show that a person or thing is in an enclosed area or in something which has volume. We use
outside to show the person or thing is not inside something. When we use inside and outside, we do not use the
preposition of after them.

EXAMPLES: The children are inside the car.

The workmen are standing outside the construction site.
PRACTICE B Fill in the blanks with the correct words in the boxes.

The mansion opposite. belongs to a the road

1
timber tycoon. Wendy's house
2 The men standing outside, are security the bank
guards. the lane
the river
3 There is asmallvillage across.
my schoo
4 You can see many of our students' art pieces along. this wall
this office

to speak about
the crowd
5 Mary is standing before.
the need for unity. the stage
her grandfather
6 The shy girl leaned against . when I took
her hand. the top of the stairs

7 You can't miss the Japanese restaurant. It is just after . Leeds Street
the Opera House

the auditorium
8 The acoustics in is excellent. the mountain

9 Many of the traders along sell novelty the pavement

items. this town

10 I like the advertisement poster on. David's left

David'sleft side

YOUR SCORE
PRACTICEC| Fill in the blanks with suitable words in the box. 10
Each item may only be used once.

across after against along at

in on outside to the left to your left

Dad It's been a long time since I came to this hardware store. Do you remember where the
gardening section is?

Mike t'sright (1). the back of the store, Dad, (2) . the
paint and brushes section.
Dad Get a trolley, Mike. We have a long list of things to buy.
Mike : I can't find any trolleys (3) the trolley bay.
Dad I think I saw a few over there (4) that wall.
Mike Dad, could we look at these shelves first? Can we buy this unusual door knocker? It woula

lookgreat (5). our front door.

Dad :All right. I like that picture, Mike. What do you think?
Mike I preferthe picture (6). of it, Dad. It will go well with the colour
scheme in your study.
Dad I wasn't thinking of the study. I was thinking of the empty space (7) it.
I think Ill take...oh my goodness, somebody's already taken the picture I like.
Mike :It's okay, Dad. I tookit. It's in ourtrolley.
Dad You're fast! Let's move on. Oh! Why is that woman ( the aisle looking
angrily at us?
Woman: Excuse me, young man, where are you going with my trolley?

Mike Madam, this is our trolley. Could that trolley (9). be yours?
Woman No, itisnt.
Mike :There's another trolley (10). the counter over there. YOUR SCORE
Woman: Let me see. Oh yes, that's my trolley. Thankyou, young man. 10

PRACTICED Study the map and fill in the blanks with the correct words.

Ritz Hotel supermarket

H O R I O NSIREET supermarket
market

Bank of bus station

Commerce
International
House
Tourism
Office

across the road from the Tourism Office.

1 The market is.
along Horton Street.
2 There are two
3 The building before the Bank of Commerce is the
4 The Ritz Hotel is opposite the .
5 The is before the bus station.

6 The bus station is opposite the.

7 The Bank of Commerce is the corner of Horton Street and

8 The market and the bus station are, Park Street.

9 The Ritz Hotel is .
the Bank of Commerce.
YOUR SCORE
10 There is a -
after the Ritz Hotel.
10