Updated on March 05, 2026

Prepositions of place: in, on, at

Prepositions of place help us describe where something or someone is located in relation to other things. These words, like in, on, at, under, next to, between, behind, and above, give us a better understanding of the position or location of objects and people.

Prepositions of Place – Exercises

These small words help us describe position and location.

Common Prepositions of Place

Here are some common prepositions:

  • in

  • on

  • at

  • under

  • above

  • behind

  • in front of

  • next to

  • between

  • near

  • inside

  • outside

In – Inside Something

Use in when something is inside a space or container.

Examples:

  • The milk is in the fridge.

  • My phone is in my bag.

  • They live in a small apartment.

On – On a Surface

Use on when something is on a surface.

Examples:

  • The laptop is on the desk.

  • There is a picture on the wall.

  • Her glasses are on the table.

At – A Specific Place

Use at for a specific point or location.

Examples:

  • I am waiting at the bus stop.

  • She is at the entrance.

  • We met at the restaurant.

Under / Above

Under means below something.

Examples:

  • The shoes are under the bed.

  • The dog is sleeping under the table.

Above means higher than something.

Examples:

  • The lamp is above the door.

  • A clock hangs above the shelf.

Next to / Near

Use next to when something is very close.

Examples:

  • The café is next to the bank.

  • She is sitting next to me.

Use near when something is close but not touching.

Examples:

  • There is a park near my house.

  • The pharmacy is near the station.

In Front of / Behind

In front of means before something.

Examples:

  • The car is in front of the building.

  • A student is standing in front of the class.

Behind means at the back of something.

Examples:

  • The bike is behind the garage.

  • The cat is behind the sofa.

Between

Use between when something is in the middle of two things.

Examples:

  • The library is between the bank and the post office.

  • She sat between her two friends.

Quick Summary

Preposition

Meaning

Example

in

inside something

The keys are in my bag

on

on a surface

The book is on the table

at

a specific place

We are at the station

under

below something

The cat is under the chair

next to

very close

The shop is next to the café

behind

at the back

The car is behind the house

Prepositions of place help us describe where things are in everyday situations.

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