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English 101 Academy

Prepositions of place – ‘in’, ‘on’, ‘at’


Mastering Prepositions of Location: In, On, and At

Do you know how to use in, on, and at to describe locations? Put your knowledge to the test with interactive exercises and read on for a helpful explanation!

How to Use In, On, and At

These prepositions help us indicate where things are and always precede nouns. Here are some examples:

  • Please put the book on the shelf.
  • They live in Helsinki.
  • You should keep milk in the fridge.
  • Mette is studying at the library.

Grammar Explanation

In

We use in to refer to a place that is inside a larger space, such as a box, house, city, or country. Here are some examples:

  • The clothes are in the wardrobe.
  • The children are playing in the park.
  • There’s a bookshop in the shopping center.
  • My grandmother was born in Sweden.

In is also used with other physical locations, including:

  • in the world
  • in water / the sea / a river / a lake / a pool
  • in the mountains / the countryside / a valley / the forest
  • in a car / a taxi

On

We use on to describe a location on a surface. Some examples include:

  • The books are on the desk.
  • We live on the fifth floor.
  • There are pictures on the wall.
  • She likes to sit on the floor.

Additionally, we use on for certain modes of public transport:

  • He’s on the bus now.
  • You can’t make phone calls on a plane.
  • They go to school on the train.

On is also used for lines (like rivers and streets) and islands:

  • London is on the River Thames.
  • The Pyrenees are on the border of Spain and France.
  • There’s a market on James Street.
  • I’d love to live on the Isle of Wight.

At

We often use at in common phrases, especially when referring to a place for a specific activity:

  • I’m at work.
  • She’s working at home today.
  • The children are at school.
  • See you at the train station!
  • They’re at the supermarket.
  • I met him at a party.

At is also used for addresses or exact positions:

  • I live at 15 Craig Street.
  • She’s sitting at a desk.
  • He’s waiting at the entrance.
  • Please sit at the back of the room.

By understanding how to use in, on, and at, you can enhance your ability to describe locations clearly and accurately. Ready to practice? Check out our interactive exercises to solidify your understanding!

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