English — Prepositions of place
The three core prepositions of place are at (a point), on (a surface or line) and in (an enclosed space): at the door, on the wall, in the room. A wider set describes exact position: above, below, over, under, in front of, behind, between, next to and opposite.
How it works
Use at for a specific point (at the bus stop), on for contact with a surface or a line (on the table, on the wall), and in for something enclosed or with borders (in the box, in the garden). The positional prepositions then fix the exact relation: the lamp is above the desk, the shoes are under the bed, the shop is next to the bank, the school is opposite the park.
Examples
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | at a specific point | She is waiting at the door. |
| on | on a surface or line | The keys are on the table. |
| in | inside an enclosed space | The milk is in the fridge. |
| above / below | higher / lower, not touching | The clock is above the door; the shelf is below the window. |
| over / under | directly over / covered beneath | A lamp hangs over the table; the cat sleeps under the chair. |
| in front of / behind | ahead of / at the back of | The car is in front of the house; the garden is behind it. |
| between / among | between two / surrounded by many | The shop is between the bank and the café; she stood among the trees. |
| next to / opposite | right beside / facing across | The school is next to the library and opposite the park. |
Good to know
next to, beside and by all mean "at the side of" and are interchangeable: the chair next to / beside / by the window. Do not confuse beside (at the side of) with besides (in addition to). Also keep between (two clear items — between you and me) apart from among (part of a larger group — among friends).