1. PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
AT, IN, ON

2. AT
We use "at" when talking
about positions or locations.
when we give
directions
Turn left at the
traffic light.

3. with social
activities.
We met them at
the party.

4. After arrive +
building
I arrived late at the
cinema.

5. with addresses if we give the house
number
I live at 48 Floranes Street.

6. to talk about buildings or places when
you’re thinking about what people do
inside them.
My neighbour works at the fishmonger’s.
Let’s meet at the cinema.

7. in the expressions
at home,
at work,
at school

8. IN
We use "in" when talking about a
position INSIDE something else.
to talk about spaces that are three-
dimensional (3D), like boxes,
drawers, cupboards, rooms,
houses…
There are twenty nine pupils in my classroom.
I’m in the kitchen.

9. With cities, countries,
continents….
I live in Santander.
Santander is in the north of Spain.

10. with expressions
like
in hospital (sick)
in church
in bed
My cousin is in
hospital.

11. with newspapers,
books and
magazines,
I read it in the
National
Geography.

12. ON
We use "on" when one thing is
TOUCHING another.
when we talk about 2D surfaces:
walls, ceilings, shelves, tables,
beaches, pages of a book, TV or
computer screens…
It’s on page 26.
The dictionary is on the shelf

13. to talk about the position of
something on a line, a road or a river.
My house is on a quiet street.
Paris is on the river Siene.

14. to talk about
transport (except
cars, we say in
cars)
I left my school bag
on the bus.
We’ll get a drink on
the train.
We go in my car.

15. Examples
Jane is waiting for you at the bus stop.
The shop is at the end of the street.
My plane stops at Dubai airport and arrives in
Bangkok two hours later.
When do you usually arrive at the office?
Do you work in an office?
I have a meeting in New York.
Do you live in Japan?
Jupiter is in the Solar System.
The author's name is on the cover of the book.
There are no prices on this menu.
You are standing on my foot.
There is a "no smoking" sign on the wall.
I live on the 7th floor at 21 Oxford Street in
London.

16. Notice the use of the prepositions of place at,
in and on in these standard expressions:
AT IN ON
at home in a car on a bus/ train
at work in a taxi on a plane/ship
at school in a lift (elevator) On a bicyle/motorbike
at university in the newspaper on a horse/ a camel/
at college in the sky an elephant
at Reception in a row on the radio/ on TV
at the bus stop in Oxford Street on the left/on the right
at the door in the park on the wall
at the top of the page in the garden on the ceiling
at the bottom of the in London on the door
page in France on the floor
at the end of the road in a box on the cover
in my pocket on the menu
on page 34