THE PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

Prepositions of place indicate where something is or where something

happens (across, in, inside, on, outside, under). For example:
o The newly built bridge across the river has just collapsed.
o His alarm clock went off twice and he is still snoring in bed.
o There was something like a snake or a rope inside the dark cage.
o There was a big fly on the bull’s nose.
o I fell asleep while waiting outside the restaurant for my turn.

Prepositions of place also tell us the position of something in relation to

another with such words as behind, beside, between, in front,
and near. For example:
o Behind his farmhouse, there was a large frightening scarecrow.  
o I sat beside screaming children in the cinema.
o There is a small age gap between my brother and I.
o Someone parked a tractor in front of our house.
o Please, don’t come near me; I’m not in a good mood today.

AT - IN - ON: General Information

AT
We use at for a point: at the window - at the entrance - at the door - at the end
of the street - at the station - at the top
For example: Bill is waiting for you at the bus stop.

ON
We use on for a surface: on the wall - on the ceiling - on the floor - on a page -
on a cover
For example: Have you seen the notice on the board?

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IN
We use in for an enclosed space: in the garden - in the house - in London - in
the water - in her bag - in a row - in a town
For example: There is nobody in the room.
She lives in a small village.

AT - IN - ON: Special Information

AT
1. We say that someone is at an event: at a party - at a pop concert - at a
conference - at a meeting. For example: Tom is at her birthday party.

2. We say at with buildings when we say where the event (film, concert,

conference) takes place. For example: Where were you yesterday? At the
cinema.
The meeting took place at the headquarters.

3. We say at someone's house. For example: We were at Hannah's house

last Thursday.

4. We say at for a place which is a part of our journey. For example: We

stopped at a very nice village.
Does the train stop at Nashville?

ON
1. We use on with small islands. For example: She spent her holiday on a
small island.

2. We say that a place is on the coast / on a river / on a road. For example:
London is on the river Thames.
Portsmouth is on the south coast of England.

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IN
1. We use in when we talk about a building itself. For example: The rooms
in Morgan’s house are small.

2. We usually use in with towns and villages. For example: Alex’s parents live

in York.

Note these expressions

AT
at home - at work - at school - at university - at college - at the station - at an
airport - at the seaside - at sea (on a voyage) - at reception - at the corner of a
street - at the back / front of a building / cinema / group of people, etc. - arrive
at with other places or events

IN
in the newspaper - in bed - in the street - in the sky - in an armchair (sit) - in a
photograph - in a picture - in a mirror - in the corner of a room - in the back /
front of a car - arrive in a country or town

ON
on a farm - on the left - on the right - on the ground floor - on the first, second,...
floor - on the way - on the chair (sit) - on the radio - on television - on a horse -
on the corner of a street - on the back / front of a letter / piece of paper

TO - BY
TO
We use the verbs: go / come / travel / fly / walk / return / drive / have been to a
place or event.
For example: Last year we flew to London.
We drove to work at seven.

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BY
We use by to say how we travel. For example: We went to Paris by plane.
I usually go to work by bike / by car / by underground / by bus.

BUT:
We say on foot.
We cannot use by if you say my car / the train / a taxi.
We use in for taxis and cars. For example: I was in a taxi when she called me.
We use on for bike / public transport. For example: I rode to school on my
bike.

Most prepositions of place show the positional relationships that different

objects have. These prepositions could be self-explanatory and easy to
understand, however, there are some that are used idiomatically.

ABOVE
It means “in a higher place in relation to something else”.
For example: She lives in the apartment above the shop.

ACROSS
It means “on the opposite side of something”.
For example: Their family lives across the street from us.

AGAINST
It means “to touch something directly; having contact”.
For example: Don't leave your bicycle leaning against the car again!

ALONG
It refers to “something placed by the side of something else”.
For example: In case of accidents there are emergency telephones all along
the tunnel.

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ALONGSIDE 
It refers to “a position next to something”.
For example: The two runners ran alongside each other as they approached
the finish line.

AROUND
It means “near; in the vicinity”.
For example: There’s a supermarket around here somewhere I seem to recall.

BEHIND
It means “in the back of something”.
For example: There is an ambulance behind our car.

BELOW
It means “in a lower place in relation to something else”.
For example: The coats are in the cupboard below the stairs.

BESIDE, NEXT TO
It means “at the side of, in the region of, close”.
For example: Cotton has been cultivated beside the Nile river for centuries.
She bought a house next to the cemetery because she wanted quiet neighbors.

BETWEEN
It means “in an intermediate space”.
For example: She is there between Anna and Danielle.

IN FRONT OF
It means “directly before or ahead of”.
For example: Caroline sits in front of me in Art class.

ON THE LEFT / RIGHT OF 

It means “immediately next to; on one side or the other”.
For example: These are our wedding pictures. My brother's on the left of my

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dad in this picture.

OPPOSITE
It means “occupying an opposing position to something else”.
For example: My house is opposite the post office.

NEAR 
It means “in the vicinity, or area, of”.
For example: We live near the airport.

TOWARDS
It means “close to; near”.
For example: Towards the end of the journey I got really tired.

UNDER
It refers to “a position below or beneath something”.
For example: The important files were under all the big folders.