Prepositions of Place (Position and Direction)
English Usage Example
• in • room, building, street, town, country
• book, paper etc.
• car, taxi
• picture, world • in the kitchen, in London
• in the book
• in the car, in a taxi
• in the picture, in the world
• at • meaning next to, by an object
• for table
• for events
• place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work) • at the door, at the station
• at the table
• at a concert, at the party
• at the cinema, at school, at work
• on • attached
• for a place with a river
• being on a surface
• for a certain side (left, right)
• for a floor in a house
• for public transport
• for television, radio • the picture on the wall
• London lies on the Thames.
• on the table
• on the left
• on the first floor
• on the bus, on a plane
• on TV, on the radio
• by, next to, beside • left or right of somebody or something • Jane is standing by / next to / beside the car.
• under • on the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else • the bag is under the table
• below • lower than something else but above ground • the fish are below the surface
• over • covered by something else
• meaning more than
• getting to the other side (also across)
• overcoming an obstacle • put a jacket over your shirt
• over 16 years of age
• walk over the bridge
• climb over the wall
• above • higher than something else, but not directly over it • a path above the lake
• across • getting to the other side (also over)
• getting to the other side • walk across the bridge
• swim across the lake
• through • something with limits on top, bottom and the sides • drive through the tunnel
• to • movement to person or building
• movement to a place or country
• for bed • go to the cinema
• go to London / Ireland
• go to bed
• into • enter a room / a building • go into the kitchen / the house
• towards • movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it) • go 5 steps towards the house
• onto • movement to the top of something • jump onto the table
• from • in the sense of where from • a flower from the garden
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