Look at these examples to see how we use these prepositions.
Please put the book on the shelf.
They live in Helsinki.
You should keep milk in the fridge.
Mette is studying at the library.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We can use the prepositions in, on and at to say where things are. They go before nouns.
I am in the kitchen.
My dog likes sleeping on the sofa.
The children eat lunch at school.
in
We use in to talk about a place that is inside a bigger space, such as a box, a house, a city or a country.
The clothes are in the wardrobe.
The children are playing in the park.
There's a bookshop in the shopping centre.
My grandmother was born in Sweden.
We also use in with other physical locations such as:
in the world
in water / the sea / a river / a lake / a pool
in the mountains / the countryside / a valley / the forest
in a car / a taxi
on
We use on to talk about location on a surface.
The books are on the desk.
We live on the fifth floor.
There are pictures on the wall.
She likes to sit on the floor.
We also use on for some types of public transport.
He's on the bus now.
You can't make phone calls on a plane.
They go to school on the train.
We also use on for lines (including rivers, borders, streets, etc.) and islands.
London is on the River Thames.
The Pyrenees are on the border of Spain and France.
There's a market on James Street.
I'd love to live on the Isle of Wight.
at
We use at in many common phrases, especially when we are talking about a place for a specific activity.
I'm at work.
She's working at home today.
The children are at school.
See you at the train station!
They're at the supermarket.
I met him at a party.
We also use at for addresses or exact positions.
I live at 15 Craig Street.
She's sitting at a desk.
He's waiting at the entrance.
Please sit at the back of the room.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello naveenedin,
You are right -- we say that a file is on the T drive. We also say a name is on a paper or Excel sheet, though it's possible to say some information is in a spreadsheet. It is difficult, but don't lose heart because in the end, people will understand.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
the childern are playing in the swimming pool.
the gift in the box.
the cat in the box.
the money in the wallet.
my grandmother was born in egypt.
my bestfriend was working in germany.
on
the laptop is on the table.
the cup of tea on the desk.
there are pictures of certifiesc on the well.
he's on the plane now.
I can't get answer phone on the car.
there's police office on james street.
at
I'm working at home today.
I'm at car.
I'm at gym.
I'm sitting at the table.
Check your verb be :
*The gift (is) in the box
Check your punctuation.
Hello Learn English Team,I would like to know the meaning of Their house is on the James River.I don't get that.
Hello Aung Qui,
When we say someone's house is on the river, or that they live on the river, it means that their house is next to the river. It's short for 'on the bank of the river'. It doesn't mean they're actually in the water, of course!
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello, teacher🙏🏻 In this part” in the world
in water / the sea / a river / a lake / a pool
in the mountains / the countryside / a valley / the forest
in a car / a taxi” you write the word “river” with an article “a”. But in your rules “articles” it is written “Seas and oceans, mountain ranges and rivers have the:
the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Mediterranean the Andes, the Himalayas, the Alps the Nile, the Amazon, the Yangtze”
Hi akniet,
We use "a river" if we are talking about a river that we don't name, or a river in general. For example: Many types of animals live in a river.
We use "the + [name]" if we are talking about a specific river. For example: Many types of animals live in the Amazon (River).
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
On is use for public transport but why is it in a car and in a taxi?
Please help
Hi adebby,
"On" is used for only some forms of public transport, not all of them. It's used for quite large vehicles (e.g. bus, train, plane, tram, boat).
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello LearnEnglish team,
I would like to know what preposition we use with roads. Is it "on Park Street"?
I would also like to tell me if there is a difference among the place prepositions "next to", "beside" and "by"?
Thank you.