Prepositions and prepositional phrases of place
Use:
Use prepositions of place to describe where something is.
The ball is in the box.
The ball is on the box.
The ball
is under the box.
The ball is over the box.
The ball is next to the
box.
The ball is near (to) the
The ball is in front of the
box.
box.
The ball is between the
two boxes.
The ball is behind the
box.
In is also used in these situations:
Countries, cities, villages
the world
mountains and valleys
buildings
water
the middle / centre
We live in France / in Paris / in Madrid.
It’s the highest building in the world.
They have a cottage in the mountains / in a valley.
She works in a bank.
Don’t swim in the sea / the river / the lake.
He lives in the middle of Paris / in the city centre.
Which film was that actor in? I read about it in the newspaper.
books / films / newspaper
On is also used in these situations:
walls, ceilings, doors, floor:
surfaces
She hung the picture on the ceiling / the wall / the door.
There’s a dirty mark on the page / table
the front / side/ back
left / right
Floors
lists / menus
roads
There’s a label in on the box / bottle
The school is on the left.
Jim’s office is on the second floor.
What’s on the menu? Did you buy everything on the list?
I live on Jackson street. The nearest gas station is on the motorway.
The post box is on the way to work.
He lives on the coast. London is on the River Thames.
natural lines and borders
At is also used in these situations:
the top / bottom (of a page)
Directions:
Position (next to something)
the front / the back
the beginning / the end
events
buildings
Sign your name at the top / bottom.
Turn left at the traffic lights / roundabout / end of the street.
Wait at the traffic lights / corner / tree.
I wrote my name at the front / back of the book.
What happened at the beginning / end of the film?
I met him at a party / conference / football match
I’ll meet you at the airport / the station / home
Common mistakes:
1. Some students miss out part of the prepositional phrases.
I live next a small shop. => I live next to a small shop.
I parked the car in front the I parked the car in front of the building.
building. =>
2. Some students add a second preposition where it is not necessary.
Your bag is behind ofthe
Your bag is behind the door.
door.=>
1. Which sentence is NOT correct?
He works in the first floor.
He lives in Park Street.
He works in the city centre.
2. Which sentence is NOT correct?
The calendar is on the wall.
The prince died on the end of the film.
There are no vegetarian meals on the menu.
3. Which sentence is NOT correct?
Turn right at the end of this street.
Tom is standing at the back of the queue.
There’s something written at the side of the box.
4. Which word goes in the space?
My name is _____ the top of the list.
on
at
in
5. Which preposition goes in the space?
I live next ____ a railway line.
from
of
to
6. Which preposition goes in the space?
Your wallet is right in front ______ you!
from
to
of
7. Complete the sentence.
We rented a flat _____ Hamburg.
at
on
in
8. Which sentence is NOT correct?
I saw Helen at the butcher’s today.
I saw Helen in the butcher’s today.
I saw Helen on the butcher’s today.
9. Which sentence is NOT correct?
Can you sign your name at the bottom please?
Sorry I missed you. I was at a meeting.
The school is at Kings Square.
10. Which sentence is NOT correct?
She lives in a farm on the mountains.
There’s something written on the back of the envelope.
The office is on the main road between Derby and Nottingham.
11. The table is below the window. The window is ____ the table.
behind
above
between
by
12. Steve, Alex, David. Alex is ____ Steve and David.
below
next to
by
between
13. Steve, Alex, David. Alex is ____ Steve.
between
under
next to
behind
14. Brenda is in front of Gina. Gina is ____ Brenda.
above
next to
beside
behind
15 Your mouth is ____ your nose.
under
next to
between
opposite