Prepositions of Place

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Prepositions of place help us describe where something is in relation to something else. The three most commonly used prepositions of place are “in,” “on,” and “at.”

Many English learners struggle with these prepositions because their meanings can be similar. However, learning how to use them correctly will help you communicate more clearly and naturally in English.

Table of Contents

How to Use “In, On, At” – Grammar Rules and Explanations

Understanding how “in,” “on,” and “at” work grammatically can make them easier to use correctly.

1. “In” – Used for Enclosed or Limited Spaces

The preposition “in” is used when something is inside a space with boundaries, even if those boundaries are not physical.

Rules for “In”:

Use “in” for enclosed spaces (rooms, buildings, countries, cities, vehicles).
Use “in” for areas with clear limits (parks, gardens, neighborhoods).

Examples:

In a room → “She is in the kitchen.”
In a building → “They are in the office.”
In a country or city → “I live in New York.”
In a vehicle (cars, taxis, boats, small vehicles) → “She is in the taxi.”

2. “On” – Used for Surfaces and Specific Lines

The preposition “on” is used when something is on top of a surface or attached to something.

Rules for “On”:

Use “on” when something is touching a surface (tables, floors, walls, streets).
Use “on” for public transportation (buses, trains, planes, ships).
Use “on” for lines or streets.

Examples:

On a table → “The book is on the table.”
On a wall → “There is a picture on the wall.”
On a street → “My apartment is on King Street.”
On a bus/train/plane → “He is on the bus to work.”

3. “At” – Used for Specific Points & Locations

The preposition “at” is used when talking about a specific point, place, or address.

Rules for “At”:

Use “at” for exact locations (bus stops, addresses, events, corners).
Use “at” for meeting points or gathering places.

Examples:

At a bus stop → “He is at the bus stop.”
At an address → “She lives at 24 Baker Street.”
At an event → “They met at the party.”
At the corner of a street → “The shop is at the corner of the street.”

In, On, At – Summary Chart

Preposition	Used For	Examples
In	Enclosed spaces	In a room, in a building, in a car, in a country
On	Surfaces & lines	On the table, on the wall, on the street, on the bus
At	Specific points or locations	At the bus stop, at 24 Baker Street, at the party, at the corner

Common Expressions Using “In, On, At”

Here are some common phrases and expressions using these prepositions for locations:

With “In”

In the city → “I live in the city center.”
In the park → “They are playing in the park.”
In the office → “She is working in the office today.”
In a restaurant → “We had dinner in a restaurant last night.”

With “On”

On the floor → “The bag is on the floor.”
On the bus/train/plane → “She is on the train to London.”
On the way → “I am on the way to work.”
On a map → “Find this place on the map.”

With “At”

At the station → “I’ll meet you at the station.”
At the door → “Someone is at the door.”
At a coffee shop → “Let’s meet at a coffee shop.”
At a conference → “He’s speaking at a conference.”