UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE

CHIMBORAZO FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN, HUMANAS Y

TECNOLOGÍAS

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS

GRAMMAR V

PREPOSITIONS IN PLACE PHRASES

INTEGRANTS

PATRICIA VINUEZARONALD MARROQUÍN

2015

PREPOSITIONS IN PLACE PHRASES

Prepositions can be used to show where something is located.

The prepositions are: at, on, and in.

“AT” PREPOSITION

We use at to show a specific place or position.

For example:

Someone is at the door.

They are waiting at the bus stop.

I used to live at 51 Portland Street.

There is a party at the club house.

There were hundreds of people at the park.

We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

“ON” PREPOSITION

We use on to show position on a horizontal or vertical surface.

For example:

The cat sat on the mat.

The satellite dish is on the roof.

I put an egg on the kitchen table.

The paper is on my desk.

We also use on to show position on streets, roads, etc.

For example: 

I used to live on Portland Street.

I live on Saint Amound Street.

My friend lives on 5 de Junio Street.

“IN” PREPOSITION

We use in to show that something is enclosed or surrounded.

For example:

The dog is in the garden.

She is in a taxi. 

Put it in the box.

She looked me directly in the eyes.

I am currently staying in a hotel.

We also use in to show position within land-areas (towns, counties, states,

countries, and continents).

For example:

I used to live in Nottingham.

My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

“IN, ON AND AT”: Other Uses.

In is also used in these situations:

Countries, cities, villages

We live in France / in Paris / in Madrid.

the worldIt’s the highest building in the world.

mountains and valleys

They have a cottage in the mountains / in a valley.

buildingsShe works in a bank.

waterDon’t swim in the sea / the river / the lake.

the middle / centreHe lives in the middle of Paris / in the city centre.

books / films / newspaper

Which film was that actor in? I read about it in the newspaper.

On is also used in these situations:

walls, ceilings, doors, floor:

She hung the picture on the ceiling / the wall / the door.

surfacesThere’s a dirty mark on the page / table

the front / side/ backThere’s a label on the box / bottle

left / rightThe school is on the left.

FloorsJim’s office is on the second floor.

lists / menusWhat’s on the menu? Did you buy everything on the list?

roads

natural lines and borders

I live on Jackson street. The nearest gas station is on the motorway. The post box is on the way to work.He lives on the coast. London is on the River Thames.

At is also used in these situations:

the top / bottom (of a page)

Sign your name at the top / bottom.

Directions:Turn left at the traffic lights / roundabout / end of the street.

Position (next to something)

Wait at the traffic lights / corner / tree.

the front / the backI wrote my name at the front / back of the book.

the beginning / the end

What happened at the beginning / end of the film?

eventsI met him at a party / conference / football match

buildingsI’ll meet you at the airport / the station / home

Exercise 1: Complete the following sentences with the correct preposition at - in or on.

1. I have a meeting at 9am.

2. The shop closes at midnight.

3. Jane went home at lunchtime.

4. In England, it often snows in December.

5. Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?

6. There should be a lot of progress in the next century.

7. Do you work on Mondays?

8. Her birthday is on 20 November.

9. Where will you be on New Year's Day?

10. He is on the phone right now.

11. She has been on the computer since this morning.

12. My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.

13. There is a party at the club house.

14. There were hundreds of people at the park.

15. We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

16. She looked me directly in the eyes.

17. I am currently staying in a hotel.

18. My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct preposition in the sentence.

1) I want to lose 5 kilogram                 in                         (on, at, in) one month.

2) Could you get me this pants               in                           (on, at, in) a larger size?

3) She seems to be interested                           in               (on, at, in) Psychology.

4) I will come to pick you up               at                           (on, at, in) 2 pm tomorrow.

5) This class will be held                   on                       (on, at, in) Mondays.

LINKOGRAPHY

Learn English. (2015)Preposition of place. Recuperado de:

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/prepositionplace.html#sthash.5Bqf2q07.dpuf

Exam English, (2014). Prepositions of place. Recuperado de:

http://www.examenglish.com/grammar/b1_prepositions_of_place.htm

Talk English. Prepositions on, at and in. Recuperado

de:http://es.talkenglish.com/Grammar/prepositions-on-at-in.aspx

Curso Ingles, (2000-2015). Prepositions of place. Recuperado de: http://www.curso-

ingles.com/gramatica-inglesa/preposic_lugar.php

English Grammar Rules, (2003-2015). Prepositions of Place. Recuperado de:

http://www.grammar.cl/rules/prepositions-of-place.htm

Lingolex. Prepositions of Place. Recuperado de:

http://www.lingolex.com/prepositions/prepositionsen.htm