in / on / at for location
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| in | inside an enclosed space; cities, countries, regions | in the box · in the room · in London · in Spain · in the north |
| on | on a surface; floors; roads; islands | on the table · on the wall · on the 3rd floor · on King Street |
| at | specific points / locations; buildings by function | at the bus stop · at the door · at school · at work · at home · at the top |
Common fixed expressions:
in bed · in hospital · in prison · in the car · on a bus/train/plane · at a party · at the cinema · at university · in the middle · on the left/right
Position words
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| next to / beside | at the side of | The bank is next to the supermarket. |
| between | in the middle of two things | She sat between her two friends. |
| opposite | facing / across from | The pharmacy is opposite the school. |
| behind | at the back of | The car park is behind the hotel. |
| in front of | at the front of; facing | She stood in front of the mirror. |
| above / over | higher than | The painting is above the fireplace. |
| below / under | lower than; directly beneath | The cat is under the table. |
| near | not far from | Do you live near the city centre? |
Exercises
Choose the correct preposition.
1. She lives ___ a small village ___ the south of France.
2. There's a bakery ___ the supermarket and the post office.
3. I'll meet you ___ the entrance to the museum.
4. The keys are ___ the table in the kitchen.
5. The bookshop is ___ the bank — they face each other across the street.