In, on, at prepositions of place: Rules with examples

Do you know how to use in, on, and at to talk about location? Enhance your knowledge with the lesson given below and the grammar explanation to guide you better.

Here are some examples of how these prepositions are used:

• Please place your keys on the table.

• They live in Tokyo.

• Keep the vegetables in the refrigerator.

• David is working at the office.

Grammar explanation - Prepositions of place

We use the prepositions in, on, and at to describe where things are. They come before nouns.

• I'm in the living room.

• My cat loves sitting on the windowsill.

• He’s having dinner at the restaurant.

1. In

We use in to talk about being inside a larger space, such as a room, a city, or a country.

• The toys are in the box.

• The kids are playing in the backyard.

• There’s a new café in the mall.

• My uncle was born in Italy.

We also use in with other physical locations:

• in the universe

• in a pool / the ocean / a river / a pond

• in the hills / the forest / a valley

• in a taxi / in a car

2. On

We use on to talk about something located on a surface.

• The keys are on the kitchen counter.

• We live on the seventh floor.

• There’s artwork on the ceiling.

• He likes to sleep on the couch.

We also use on for certain types of public transport.

• She’s on the subway right now.

• It’s hard to make phone calls on a train.

• They go to work on the ferry.

Additionally, we use on for lines (including rivers, borders, streets) and islands.

• New York is on the Hudson River.

• The Alps are on the border between Switzerland and Italy.

• There’s a café on Baker Street.

• I’d love to visit Santorini, an island on the Aegean Sea.

3. At

We use at in many common phrases, especially when referring to a place for a specific activity.

• I’m at the gym.

• She’s working at home today.

• The kids are at daycare.

• See you at the airport!

• They’re at the grocery store.

• I met him at the conference.

We also use at for addresses or exact locations.

• I live at 42 Pine Street.

• She’s sitting at the table.

• He’s waiting at the gate.

• Please sit at the front of the room

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