A1 · Grammar
Prepositions of place
After this page you can say where things and people are: in, on, under, next to, between, behind, in front of, opposite and at (at home, at work).
Rules
1.
in · on · under
- The milk is in the fridge.
- Your mobile phone is on the desk.
- Ben's shoes are under the bed.
- There's a map of Leeds on the wall.
A preposition of place says where something is. It goes before a noun: in the box, on the desk. in = inside. on = on a surface. under = below.
in, on or under?
- in + a box, a bag, a room, a fridge: in the bag, in the kitchen
- on + a surface: on the table, on the floor, on the wall, on the door
- under + a thing above: under the bed, under the chair
A wall and a door are surfaces too. A picture is on the wall, not in the wall.
in = inside · on = on a surface · under = below
on the wall, on the floor (not: in the wall)
2.
next to · between
- The bank is next to the post office.
- Priya sits next to me at work.
- The café is between the bank and the chemist's.
next to = very near, at the side of a thing. between = in the middle of two things or people. After between you name both: between A and B.
Two small words
- next to is two words. Don't forget to: next to the door.
- between + A and B: between Tom and Lucy
next to (not: next the door, next of the door)
between A and B (not: between A or B)
3.
behind · in front of · opposite
- The car park is behind the supermarket.
- Anna waits in front of the cinema.
- My flat is opposite the park.
in front of and behind are opposites. opposite = on the other side, for example of a street or a table. The two things face each other.
Look at the small words
- in front of = three words: in front of the hotel
- behind = one word: behind the hotel
- opposite + noun, with no of: opposite the hotel
in front of ↔ behind
opposite the bank (not: opposite of the bank)
4.
at home, at work, at the station
- Ahmed isn't here. He's at work.
- I'm at home this evening.
- Sofia is at the station now.
- Marek lives in Bristol, in a small flat.
Use at for a point or a place where you do something: at work, at the bus stop. Use in for a room, a building, a city or a country: in the kitchen, in London, in Wales.
at
- no the: at home · at work · at school · at university
- with the: at the station · at the bus stop · at the door · at the airport
at home, at work (no the)
city or country: in: in Leeds, in Wales
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