Prepositions of Place (in/on/at)

Using in, on, at for locations

beginner

When to Use

•in for enclosed spaces and countries/cities: in a room, in London, in a box
•on for surfaces and floors: on the table, on the wall, on the 3rd floor
•at for points or addresses: at the door, at the bus stop, at 10 Downing Street
•at for events/locations-as-points: at a concert, at school, at work
•No preposition with home (at home), but use at + place for work/school

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Preposition + place: in the kitchen / on the shelf / at the station

Negative (-)

Negate the verb, keep preposition: I am not at home

Question (?)

Where + be + subject + preposition + place? (Where is she at school?)

💡 Addresses: at 25 King Street; Surfaces: on; Enclosed: in

Examples

✓The keys are on the table.

✗The keys are at the table.

Use on for surfaces.

✓She lives in Paris.

✗She lives at Paris.

Cities/countries take in.

✓I am waiting at the bus stop.

✗I am waiting on the bus stop.

Use at for point locations like stops/stations.

✓There's a picture on the wall.

✗There's a picture at the wall.

Surfaces use on.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• in = inside/enclosed; on = surface; at = point/address/event.
• Addresses: at + number + street; Surfaces: on; Cities/countries: in.
• at school/work/home: fixed expressions.
• If you can touch a surface → on; if it's a dot on a map → at; if you're inside it → in.

prepositions-time prepositions-movement articles-definite-indefinite 📝 prepositions-beginner 📝 place-prepositions-quiz

Prepositions of Place (in/on/at)

Using in, on, at for locations

beginner

When to Use

•in for enclosed spaces and countries/cities: in a room, in London, in a box
•on for surfaces and floors: on the table, on the wall, on the 3rd floor
•at for points or addresses: at the door, at the bus stop, at 10 Downing Street
•at for events/locations-as-points: at a concert, at school, at work
•No preposition with home (at home), but use at + place for work/school

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Preposition + place: in the kitchen / on the shelf / at the station

Negative (-)

Negate the verb, keep preposition: I am not at home

Question (?)

Where + be + subject + preposition + place? (Where is she at school?)

💡 Addresses: at 25 King Street; Surfaces: on; Enclosed: in

Examples

✓The keys are on the table.

✗The keys are at the table.

Use on for surfaces.

✓She lives in Paris.

✗She lives at Paris.

Cities/countries take in.

✓I am waiting at the bus stop.

✗I am waiting on the bus stop.

Use at for point locations like stops/stations.

✓There's a picture on the wall.

✗There's a picture at the wall.

Surfaces use on.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• in = inside/enclosed; on = surface; at = point/address/event.
• Addresses: at + number + street; Surfaces: on; Cities/countries: in.
• at school/work/home: fixed expressions.
• If you can touch a surface → on; if it's a dot on a map → at; if you're inside it → in.

prepositions-time prepositions-movement articles-definite-indefinite 📝 prepositions-beginner 📝 place-prepositions-quiz

Prepositions of Place (in/on/at)

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Prepositions of Place (in/on/at)

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I live at London.

✗She is in the bus stop.

✗The book is at the table.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I live at London.

✗She is in the bus stop.

✗The book is at the table.

💡 Practice Tips

Related