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At, in, on – prepositions of place

The document explains the usage of the prepositions 'at', 'in', and 'on' in relation to place. It provides examples for each preposition, detailing specific contexts such as locations, group activities, and spatial references. Additionally, it includes exercises to practice the correct usage of these prepositions.

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27 views9 pages

At, in, on – prepositions of place

The document explains the usage of the prepositions 'at', 'in', and 'on' in relation to place. It provides examples for each preposition, detailing specific contexts such as locations, group activities, and spatial references. Additionally, it includes exercises to practice the correct usage of these prepositions.

Uploaded by

nihal.inan95
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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At, in, on – prepositions of place

At
At a point

We use at to refer to a point near something.

 Can you see that car at the traffic light? (=The car is at a point
near the traffic light)
 Who is that man at the door? (=The man is at a point near the
door)
At the top of/at the bottom of/at the end of

We use at in the expressions at the top of, at the bottom


of and at the end of.

 She is at the top of the stairs.


 Please, sign at the bottom of the page.
 The new café is at the end of the street.

Group activities

We use at to refer to group activities like parties, concerts, and


other events.

 We were at the cinema.


 I didn’t see you at Jackie’s party.
 We met at a concert.

At + school/university/college

We normally use at with school, university and college.

 He is at school every morning until 12.


 I’m studying at Oxford University.

Be at home/work

We say be at home/at work (without the)

 She’s at home. (NOT at the home)


 I’ll be at work all morning. (NOT at the work)

At the shop

We use at to refer to shops, restaurants, cafés, etc.

 I’m at the bakery.


 If you are at the chemist’s, can you buy some aspirins?
In
In a 3D space

We use in to refer to a position inside of a three-dimensional


space.

 The book is in the bag.


 She is waiting in the classroom.

In a space with limits

We also use in for areas that have limits or boundaries,


like continents, countries, cities, regions, etc.

 We are in France.
 I love the houses in the Alps.

In a car

We use in for cars and vans.

 They are in the car.

In the water

We also use in when something is in the water: in the sea, in the


river, in the swimming pool, etc.

 The kids have fun in the swimming pool.

In a picture, in a book

We also use in for things that are printed in books, pictures,


documents, etc.

 Who’s that woman in the picture?


 Does it say anything about the concert in the newspaper?
On
On a surface

We use on to refer to a position on a surface.

 The book is on the table.

On the first/second/etc. floor

We use on to refer to floors in a building.

 The office is on the third floor.

On the right/left

We use on in the expressions on the right and on the left.

 The office is on the third floor on the left.

On the bus/train/plane

We use on when we are using public transport: on the bus, on a


train, on a plane, etc.

 She’s on the bus right now.

On TV/the radio/the Internet/a website

We use on when we read, see or learn something in the media.

 I saw it on TV last night.


 I learned it on the internet.
Exercise 1

Choose at, in, on to complete the sentences.

1. They are sitting in/on/at the table.


2. I want to spend a year at/in/on Barcelona.
3. The milk isn't at/in/on the fridge. Where is it?
4. Is Peter's office on/in/at the first or the second floor?
5. Why are all these clothes in/on/at the bed?
6. Please, put the clothes on/in/at the wardrobe.
7. Are you at the/in the/at home?
8. I don't want to see her in/at/on the party tonight.
9. I like the sea, but I prefer swimming in/at/on a swimming pool.
10. Please, call me when you are in/at/on the bus.

1. Correct answer: at
➪ We sit at a point near a table, we don't sit on the surface of a
table or in the table, because a table is not a room or a place that
we can be in.
2. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in for areas that have limits or boundaries,
like continents, countries, cities, regions, etc.
3. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in to refer to a position inside of a three dimensional
space, like a fridge.
4. Correct answer: on
➪ We use on to refer to floors in a building.
5. Correct answer: on
➪ We use on to refer to a position on a surface, in this case the
bed.
6. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in to refer to a position inside of a three dimensional
space, like a wardrobe.
7. Correct answer: at
➪ We say be at home/at work (without the)
8. Correct answer: at
➪ We use at to refer to group activities like parties, concerts,
and other events.
9. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in when something is in the water: in the sea, in the
river, in the swimming pool, etc.
10. Correct answer: on
➪ We use on when we are using public transport: on the bus, on
a train, on a plane, etc.

Exercise 2
Choose the correct prepositions of place (at, in, on) to
complete the sentences.
1. The museum is _____ the end of the street.
a. at
b. in
c. on
2. I study _____ the university of Toronto.
a. at
b. in
c. on
3. This is the best film you can see _____ the cinema now.
a. at
b. in
c. on
4. 'Where's Alice?' 'She's _____ the attic.'
a. at
b. in
c. on
5. People are usually nervous on their first day _____ work.
a. at
b. in
c. on
6. Can you give me the book _____ that shelf?
a. at
b. in
c. on
7. It's the second door _____ the right.
a. at
b. in
c. on
8. All the stories _____ the book are very special.
a. at
b. in
c. on
9. We were _____ Australia last summer.
a. at
b. in
c. on
10. I always read when I'm _____ the train.
a. at
b. in
c. on

1. Correct answer:A ➪ We use at in the expressions at the top


of, at the bottom of and at the end of.
2. Correct answer:A ➪ We normally use at with school,
university and college.
3. Correct answer:A ➪ We use at to refer to group activities
like parties, concerts, and other events.
4. Correct answer:B ➪ We use in to refer to a position inside of
a three dimensional space, like an attic.
5. Correct answer:A ➪ We say be at home/at
work (without the).
6. Correct answer:C ➪ We use on to refer to a position on a
surface.
7. Correct answer:C ➪ We use on in the expressions on the
right and on the left.
8. Correct answer:B ➪ We use in for things that are printed
in books, pictures, documents, etc.
9. Correct answer:B ➪ We use in for areas that have limits or
boundaries, like continents, countries, cities, regions, etc.
10. Correct answer:C ➪ We use on when we are using public
transport: on the bus, on a train, on a plane, etc.

Exercise 3

Complete the sentences using the correct prepositions of place: at,


in, on.

1. I'm ……… the greengrocer's. Do you need anything?


2. You left your keys ……… the sofa.
3. My daughter keeps her money ……… a piggy bank.
4. We want to have a picnic……… the lake.
5. Who is that man ……… the window?
6. The cookies are ……… the jar.
7. I can't sleep ……… the bus.
8. The two main bedrooms are ……… the ground floor.
9. All the people ……… the room applauded.
10. Tourism ……… Europe is very important.

1. Correct answer: at
➪ We use at to refer to shops, restaurants, cafés, etc.
2. Correct answer: on
➪ We use on to refer to a position on a surface, and a sofa is
considered a surface: we sit or lie on a sofa.
3. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in to refer to a position inside of a three dimensional
space, and a piggy bank is a three dimensional space.
4. Correct answer: at
➪ We use at to refer to position near a specific point. We can have
a picnic at a point near the lake, but not on the lake (on the
water) or in the lake (in the water).
5. Correct answer: at
➪ We use at to refer to position near a specific point. We can
stand at a point near the window, but not in the window (inside)
or on the window.
6. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in to refer to a position inside of a three dimensional
space,and a jar is an 3D space where we put things.
7. Correct answer: on
➪ We use on when we are using public transport: on the bus, on
a train, on a plane, etc.
8. Correct answer: on
➪ We use on to refer to floors in a building.
9. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in to refer to a position inside of a three dimensional
space, and a room is an 3D space.
10. Correct answer: in
➪ We use in for areas that have limits or boundaries,
like continents, countries, cities, regions, etc.

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