Practice
Prepositions of place: describe where things are
Sign in to saveThe receipt is in a pocket. The mug is on the counter. The bicycle is beside the wall. Each place word gives a different picture.
Choose a common preposition of place to describe where a person or thing is in relation to another place or object.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
next to the door /nekst tə ðə dɔː/
The short answer
Use in for something inside a space or container, on for contact with a surface, at for a point or activity place, under for a lower position, between for a middle position with two reference points, and beside for a close side position.
The spare key is in the blue tin by the door.
Why it works: In shows that the key is inside the tin.
5 more examples
-
The recipe is in the top drawer.
The recipe is inside the drawer.
Not this:The recipe is
on the top drawer. What changes: This means the recipe is on the drawer's outer surface. -
A small plant is on the windowsill.
On shows that the plant touches the windowsill's surface.
Not this:A small plant is
under the windowsill. What changes: This changes the position to a lower place beneath the windowsill. -
We will meet at the main entrance.
At treats the entrance as the agreed point for meeting.
Not this:We will wait
in the entrance hall. What changes: In places the people inside a named area. -
The pharmacy is between the florist and the bakery.
Between uses the florist and the bakery as two reference points.
Not this:The florist is
next to the bakery. What changes: Next to means close beside one reference point. -
The bus stop is opposite the museum.
Opposite places the bus stop across from the museum.
Not this:The bus stop is
near the museum. What changes: Near only says that the two places are close.
Read the full guide
Picture the scene before you choose a word. Is the thing inside something? Does it touch a surface? Is the place a meeting point, or is the object lower, higher, or at the side of another thing? The answer usually gives you the preposition.
Start with the relationship
Place prepositions answer the question Where is it? Find the thing you want to describe, then find its reference point. In The phone is on the desk, the phone is the thing and the desk is the reference point. On explains their relationship.
The umbrella is beside the coat rack.
Beside means at the side of the coat rack. It does not mean that the umbrella is inside the rack.
A coin is within a purse. Which preposition describes its position?
Use in: The coin is in the purse.
Use in for an inside position
Use in when something is inside a container, room, building, town, or other area. A place does not need to be small. You can be in a drawer, in a classroom, or in a city.
Her glasses are in the case on the shelf.
The children are in the playground after lunch.
A case is a container, while a playground is an area. In works because both sentences describe being within a space.
Which word fits a letter inside an envelope?
Use in: The letter is in the envelope.
Use on and under for position around a surface
Use on when an object touches a surface. The surface can be flat, vertical, or part of an object. Use under when something is lower than another thing, often directly beneath it.
Your name is on the list by the window.
The backpack is under the chair.
The name appears on the list's surface. The backpack has a lower position than the chair.
A picture touches the classroom wall. Which preposition fits?
Use on: The picture is on the classroom wall.
Choose at or in by the meaning
Use at when a place is treated as a point, a meeting place, or the location of an activity. Use in when you mean inside a building or area. The place name can stay the same while the meaning changes.
I will see you at the bus stop.
We are in the bus station near the ticket office.
At the bus stop names the agreed point. In the bus station describes a position inside the station.
You are waiting at a named point outside a building. Which word is likely to fit?
Use at: We are waiting at the entrance.
Use two reference points when needed
Use between when a person, thing, or place has a middle position in relation to two reference points. Use beside or next to when only one nearby reference point matters. Use opposite for a position across from something.
Sit between Ali and Rosa.
The lift is next to the stairs.
The café is opposite the cinema.
Between needs two sides. Next to gives a close side position. Opposite puts the café across from the cinema.
A shop has a bank on one side and a hotel on the other. Which word describes the shop's position?
Use between: The shop is between the bank and the hotel.
Before you go
Remember this
Start with the picture. Use in for inside, on for a surface, at for a point, under for lower, above for higher, between for a middle position with two reference points, and beside or next to for a close side position.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Prepositions of place: describe where things are"
What are prepositions of place?
Prepositions of place show where a person or thing is in relation to another place or object. Common examples include in, on, at, under, above, between, beside, and next to. The choice depends on the relationship you want to describe.
The recipe is in the top drawer.
What is the difference between in and on?
Use in when something is inside a space or container. Use on when it touches a surface. A recipe can be in a drawer, but the same recipe can be on the drawer if it rests on the outside surface.
The recipe is on the top drawer.
When do I use at and in for a place?
Use at when a place is treated as a point, a meeting place, or an activity location. Use in when you mean inside a building or area. You can meet at an entrance and wait in an entrance hall.
A small plant is on the windowsill.
What is the difference between between and next to?
Between describes a middle position with two reference points. Next to describes a close position beside one reference point. A pharmacy can be between two shops, while a chair can be next to a desk.
A small plant is under the windowsill.
Is beside the same as near?
Beside usually means directly at the side of something. Near means close to something but does not give an exact side or position. A bag beside a chair is more precisely located than a bag near a chair.
We will meet at the main entrance.