What are place prepositions?
Place prepositions , are prepositions that are used to describe the place or position of all types of nouns. It is common for the preposition to be placed before the noun. When we refer to Place prepositions we usually refer to "in", "at" and "on".
In - Is usually used to state that someone or something is in a (the boundaries can be physical or virtual place.
On - Is usually used to state someone or something is on top of a surface.
At - Is usually used to state something or someone is at a specific place.
How to use a prepositions?
1. The prepositions usually comes before the noun.
2. Prepositions can be used with all forms of nouns (e.g. collective nouns, pronouns etc).
3. Prepositions can't come after a verb, but can be used before a gerund or verb in noun form.
4. The rules above do not change and there are no exceptions to the rules.
We use :
* at for a PRECISE TIME
* in for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
* on for DAYS and DATES
Prepositions of place are used to clarify a specific place. Place prepositions are used with all nouns. The preposition usually comes before the noun or the pronoun. The preposition never comes before a verb.
Common Place Prepositions:
aboard - She is aboard the boat.
above - The picture is above the sofa.
across - My house is across the street.
against - The desk is against the wall.
around - My house is around the block.
at - Is your house at the end of the street.
Time prepositions are used to define time. Prepositions usually come before a noun or pronoun. Prepositions never come after a verb.
* after - I will be there after work.
* around - We will be there around 3 PM
* before - I will be there before I go to school.
* between - I will be there
Use 'in' with spaces:
* 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
Use 'at' with places:
* at the bus-stop
* at the door
* at the cinema
* at the end of the street
Use 'at' with places on a page:
* at the top of the page
* at the bottom of the page
Use 'at' in groups of people:
* at the back of the class
* at the front of the class
Use 'on' with surfaces:
* 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
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
Prepositions In Time
“ AT “
PRECISE TIME
- At 3 o’clock
- At 10.30 a.m.
- At noon
- At dinnertime
- At bedtime
- At sunrise
- At sunset
- At the moment
“ IN “
MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
- In May
- In summer
- In the winter
- In 1990
- In the 1990’s
- In the next century
- In the Ice Age
- In the past/future
“ ON “
DAYS and DATES
- On Sunday
- On Tuesdays
- On 6 March
- On 25 Dec. 2010
- On Christmas Day
- On Independence Day
- On my birthday
- On New Year’s Eve
