3. Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place describe where something or someone is located. For A2 learners, the most common ones are in, on, and at, but we’ll also introduce next to and under to add variety.

How to Use Them

• In: For enclosed spaces or larger areas (e.g., in a room, in a city, in a bag).

• On: For surfaces or specific lines (e.g., on a table, on a street, on the wall).

• At: For specific points or locations (e.g., at the door, at school, at the bus stop).

• Next to: Something is beside or near another thing (e.g., next to the window).

• Under: Something is below another thing (e.g., under the bed).

Examples

• The cat is in the box.

• My phone is on the table.

• We meet at the park entrance.

• The lamp is next to the sofa.

• My shoes are under the bed.

Tips

• Use in for bigger places (e.g., in a country) and at for smaller, specific spots (e.g., at the station).

• Practice by describing objects around you to remember the correct preposition.

• Be careful with on for surfaces; it’s different from in (e.g., in the bag vs. on the shelf).

Relaxing Example

Imagine a cozy evening at home:

• “My book is on the coffee table.”

• “I sit in a comfortable chair.”

• “The dog sleeps under the table.”

• “My friend waits at the door.”

• “The flowers are next to the window.”

Try It!

Describe five things in your home and where they are. Example: “My TV is on the wall.”

Practice Makes Perfect!

Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using the grammar rules above. Include at least one sentence with an object, one in the present simple (positive, negative, or question), and one with a preposition of place. Here’s an example:

“Every morning, I eat breakfast in the kitchen. My cat sleeps under the table. I don’t watch TV in the morning. My phone is on the counter. Do you drink coffee at home?”

Keep practicing, and you’ll speak and write English with ease! Enjoy your learning journey!