Preposition of Place

Inasmuch as there is a preposition used to express time, we also have those used to describe the place. You must be aware of them and make proper use of them.

Three prepositions of place will be discussed in this course: at, in, and on.

When you are at a particular place or event, the preposition “at” is the right word to use.

• She is at the door; can you let her in?
• John is at the traffic light waiting for the green light.
• The dumpster is at the end of the street.
• We are at the party.
• John is at the cinema with his friend.
• Are you at the university already?
• Can we meet at the cafe close to you, please?
• I will be at home by noon.

The preposition “in” is used to express being inside an enclosed space or object, a large space or territory with boundaries, or a moving object where you can only sit and not stand. In addition, when something is printed in a material or inside a body of water, the preposition “in” is used.

Here are some examples for a clearer explanation:

• Her book is in the bag.
• Can you wait for me in the classroom?
• I will be in Las Vegas for my 20th birthday.
• There are a lot of people in the van.
• There is a child in the car.
• Kate and Jocely are playing in the pool.
• Did you see Twitter’s CEO picture in the newspaper today?

When you are on a large moving object where you can stand if you want to and move around, “on” should be the preposition to use. It can also be used when an object is on a surface or when giving directions.

Imagine these scenarios:

• Q: Where is the book?
• A: It is on the table.
• Q: Where can I find the director’s office?
• A: It is on the second floor.
• Q: Theo, where are you?
• A: I am on the bus, heading home.
• Q: I thought you were on your flight to New York already.
• A: No, it got canceled, but I should be on a plane to New York tomorrow.
• Q: Hello, how do I get to the next Starbucks, please?
• A: Walk for three miles, and you will find it on your left.
• Q: Did you catch the governor’s interview on TV last night?
• A: Yes, I did.