Prepositions are short words that link nouns and pronouns to other words. Prepositions of place answer the question "Where?" and are used to describe the position or location of one thing in relation to another.
English
English
I met him at the corner of the street.
At is the preposition of place.
At / In / On
Some of the most commonly used prepositions of place include:
- at for a point,
- in for an enclosed space,
- on for a surface.
| At | In | On |
|---|---|---|
| at the corner | in London | on the wall |
| at the desk | in my wallet | on a page |
| at home | in a car | on the menu |
| At | In | On |
|---|---|---|
| at the corner | in London | on the wall |
| at the desk | in my wallet | on a page |
| at home | in a car | on the menu |
Prepositions of Place: Overview
Above / Under / Below
Example
Explanation
Our neighbors in the apartment above us are really noisy.
Above means higher than something else, but not directly over it.
Your legs are under the table.
Under means that something is at a lower level than something, and the other thing is directly above it.
The ship is below the surface.
Below has a similar meaning as under, and it usually helps you say that one thing is at a much lower level than another.
Over
Over can have a similar meaning as above, but there are more:
Example
Explanation
You should put a coat on over your sweater.
Over can be used when something else is covered.
It's over 65 deegress outside.
You can use over in the sense of more than.
Across
Example
Explanation
I will walk across the bridge.
Across means to get to the other side. It's also another meaning of over.
Against
Example
Explanation
She was standing with her beck against the door.
Against can mean in contact with something.
Barcelona is playing against Real Madrid tonight.
Against can also mean in opposition to.
By = Next To = Beside
Example
Explanation
He was standing by/next to/beside me.
All these mean located very close to.
Near
Example
Explanation
She parked her car near the entrance to the mall.
Near is almost the same as by, next to, and beside, but there is more distance between things.
In Front Of / Behind
Example
Explanation
A teacher stands in front of the students.
In front of describes that somethings is located directly before another thing.
You will find a beautiful garden behind that house.
Behind is the opposite of in front of and means at the back (part) of something.
Between
Example
Explanation
I will have a snack between lunch and dinner.
Between usually refers to something that is positioned in the middle of two other things or places, both literally and figuratively.
Into / Onto
Example
Explanation
She walked into the kitchen.
Into means to enter a room or a building.
His dog jumped onto the table.
Onto means up on to something.
Quiz
1/4
Choose the right preposition. He will eat his lunch ___ work.
0
correct answers.