Prepositions of Place
Preposition of Explanation
place
in o inside
at o used to show an exact
position or particular place
o table
o events
o place where you are to do
something typical (watch a
film, study, work)
on o attached
o next to or along the side of
(river)
o used to show that something
is in a position above
something else and touching
it.
o left, right
o a floor in a house
o used for showing some
methods of travelling
o television, radio
by, next to, o not far away in distance
beside, near
between o in or into the space which
separates two places, people
or objects
behind o at the back (of)
in front of o further forward than
someone or something else
Example
o I watch TV in the living-room
o I live in New York
o Look at the picture in the book
o She looks at herself in the mirror.
o She is in the car.
o Look at the girl in the picture
o This is best team in the world
o I met her at the entrance, at the
bus stop
o She sat at the table
o at a concert, at the party
o at the
movies, at university, at work
o Look at the picture on the wall
o Cambridge is on the River Cam.
o The book is on the desk
o A smile on his face
o The shop is on the left
o My apartment on the first floor
o I love travelling on trains /on the
bus /on a plane
o My favourite
program on TV, on the radio
o The girl who is by / next
to / beside the house.
o The town lies
halfway between Rome and
Florence.
o I hung my coat behind the door.
o She started talking to the man in
front of her
under o lower than (or covered by)
something else
below o lower than something else.
over o above or higher than
something else, sometimes so
that one thing covers the
other.
o more than.
o across from one side to the
other.
o overcoming an obstacle
above o higher than something else,
but not directly over it
across o from one side to the other of
something with clear limits /
getting to the other side
through o from one end or side of
something to the other
to o in the direction of
o bed
into o towards the inside or middle
of something and about to be
contained, surrounded or
enclosed by it
towards o in the direction of, or closer
to someone or something
onto o used to show movement into
or on a particular place
from o used to show the place where
someone or something starts.
o the cat is under the chair.
o the plane is just below the the
cloud
o She held the umbrella over both of
us.
o Most of the carpets
cost/are over$100.
o I walked over the bridge
o She jumped over the gate
o a path above the lake
o She walked across the field/road.
o He sailed across the Atlantic
o They walked slowly through the
woods.
o We went to Prague last year.
o I go to bed at ten.
o Shall we go into the garden?
o She stood up and
walked towards him.
o I slipped as I stepped onto the
platform.
o What time does the flight from
London arrive?