IN ON AT prepositions of place

IN ON AT prepositions of place

IN

• Use 'in' with spaces that you can physically walk into, or place something into:

  in a room / in a building / in a garden / in a park

• Use 'in' with bodies of water:

  in the water / in the sea / in a river

• Use 'in' with lines:

  in a row / in a line / in a queue

ON : We use on when we want to say that an object or person is on the surface of another object.

• Use 'on' with vertical or horizontal surfaces that you can lay something onto, or attach something to:

  on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor on the table

• Use 'on' with small islands:

  I stayed on Maui.

• Use 'on' with directions:

  on the left / on the right / straight on

AT

• at a point : We use at to refer to a point near something.

  Can you see that car at the traffic light? (=The car is at a point near the traffic light) / Who is that man at the door. (=The man is at a point near the door)

• at the top of/at the bottom of/at the end of 

  We use at in the expressions at the top of, at the bottom of  and at the end of.

  She is at the top of the stairs.  / Please, sign at the bottom of the page. / The new café is at the end of the street. 

• Group activities: We use at to refer to group activities like parties, concerts, and other events.

  We were at the cinema. / I didn’t see you at Jackie’s party. /  We met at a concert. 

Important notes

• In / at / on the corner

  We say 'in the corner of a room', but 'at the corner (or 'on the corner') of a street'

  
  

• In / at / on the front

  We say 'in the front / in the back' of a car. / We say 'at the front / at the back' of buildings / groups of people / We say 'on the front / on the back' of a piece of paper

  
  

Multiple Choice

They are sitting _______ the table.

• in

• on

• at

Multiple Select

I want to spend a year _____ Barcelona.

• in

• on

• at

Multiple Select

The milk isn't ______ the fridge. Where is it?

• in

• on

• at

Multiple Choice

Is Peter's office ______ the first or the second floor?

• in

• on

• at

Multiple Choice

Are you ____ the home?

• in

• on

• at

Fill in the Blanks

The museum is

the end of the street.

Fill in the Blanks

I study

the university of Toronto.

Fill in the Blanks

This is the best film you can see

the cinema now.

Fill in the Blanks

'Where's Alice?' 'She's

the attic.'

Fill in the Blanks

People are usually nervous on their first day

work.

Fill in the Blanks

All the stories

the book are very special.