Prepositions of Place:
at, in, on
In general, we use:
- at
for a POINT
- in
for an ENCLOSED SPACE
- on
for a SURFACE
| at |
in |
on |
| POINT |
ENCLOSED SPACE |
SURFACE |
| at the corner |
in the garden |
on the wall |
| at the bus stop |
in London |
on the ceiling |
| at the door |
in France |
on the door |
| at the top of the page |
in a box |
on the cover |
| at the end of the road |
in my pocket |
on the floor |
| at the entrance |
in my wallet |
on the carpet |
| at the crossroads |
in a building |
on the menu |
| at the entrance |
in a car |
on a page |
Look at these examples:
- Jane is waiting for you at
the bus stop.
- The shop is at the end
of the street.
- My plane stopped at Dubai
and Hanoi and arrived in Bangkok two hours
late.
- When will you arrive at
the office?
- Do you work in an office?
- I have a meeting in New
York.
- Do you live in Japan?
- Jupiter is in the Solar
System.
- The author's name is on
the cover of the book.
- There are no prices on
this menu.
- You are standing on my
foot.
- There was a "no smoking" sign
on the wall.
- I live on the 7th floor
at 21 Oxford Street in London.
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| Notice the use of the prepositions
of place at, in and on in these
standard expressions:
| at |
in |
on |
| at home |
in a car |
on a bus |
| at work |
in a taxi |
on a train |
| at school |
in a helicopter |
on a plane |
| at university |
in a boat |
on a ship |
| at college |
in a lift (elevator) |
on a bicycle, on a motorbike |
| at the top |
in the newspaper |
on a horse, on an elephant |
| at the bottom |
in the sky |
on the radio, on television |
| at the side |
in a row |
on the left, on the right |
| at reception |
in Oxford Street |
on the way |
See also Prepositions
of Time: at, in, on
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