Unit 6.2

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions - 2 minutes

Introduction

Prepositions are small words that connect elements in a sentence. They are essential because they provide additional details about the sentence.

We use prepositions of place to locate an event in a space frame {see Common Prepositions of Time and Place, A1 level}.

Form

Prepositions of place don’t stand alone but act with other elements of the sentence to create what we can call prepositional phrases: at, on, in and by.

Example

At

I am waiting at the zoo for you.
He was at the game when it was snowing.
They love being at home with their dog.

On

You put many posters on the walls.
There was a rose on the way home.
We are not allowed to smoke on the bus.

In

You can find wonderful paintings in this church.
There is a wild animal in that forest.
They lived in Canada for 10 years.

By

His dog is always walking by his side.
The house is by the swimming pool.
They are talking by the exhibition.

Use

We use prepositions of place to express the location of something or someone.

The main ones are:

At

(general, to refer to bigger places)

Exact position at a point (at the bus stop…);
Before the name of group activities (at the party, at the match…);
With home, work, school, university, the top, the bottom…

On

(more specific, to refer to smaller places)

Position on a surface (on the floor…);
On a line (on the path, on the way, on the river…);
Public transport;
Directions (the right and the left…)

In

(very specific, to refer the smallest places)

Position inside large areas;
Three-dimensional space and areas surrounded on all sides (in a forest, in the office…);
Continents, states, countries, buildings…

By

Left or right of somebody or something;
Next to somebody or something;
Not far away in distance (near).

Summary

Prepositions of place are used to locate an event in a space frame.

The main prepositions of place are: at, on, in and by.

For example:
— “I work at home today.” = We use at to talk about a specific point or place.
— “I work on the left of the corner.” = We use on to talk about directions.
— “I work in this building.” = We use in to talk about the position inside a 3-dimensional place.
— “I work by this building.” = We use by to express that a place is near to the other.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

Exercise

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