Prepositions of Place - Guide and Short Exercise with Answers

Prepositions of Place

WHERE ?


in : when something is all around, on all sides
in the phone-box
in my pocket
in the garden
in the kitchen
swimming in the pool

in + town/country
Kate lives in Ma On Shan.
Sydney is in Australia.

in + street name
in Sai Sha road


on : for a surface
lying on the rug
walking on the footpath
a number on the door
egg on your shirt

on: for a line
a town on this road
a bridge on the river

on + floor
on the first floor of the building








at : for a position, a point in space
someone at the door
sitting at my desk
at the end of the street

at + house /address
at 65 Bridge Road
at John’s house






Some common phrases :

in prison
in hospital
in a book
in a movie
in a photo
in the country
in the sky
in the middle

on the farm
on the page
on the screen
on an island
on the beach
on the right/left

at the station
at the airport
at home
at school
at work
at the top
at the bottom
at the end



in / on / at

1. We spent the whole holiday ….. the beach.
2. I read about kangaroos ….. a magazine.
3. Suzy’s flat is ….. the twenty-first floor.
4. Julia was holding a small bird ….. her hands.
5. I’ll meet you ….. the airport.
6. London is ..... the Thames River.
7. There weren’t many books ….. the shelves.
8. We had to change planes ….. Beijing.


Answers: 1. at 2. in 3. on 4. in 5. at 6. on 7. on 8. in