PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE: At, On, In by Carmen Luisa Pérez Amaro

In – place: For position inside large areas, e.g. countries, cities, regions, large islands… For position in three-dimensional space, e.g. a room, a building, a park… Transport – to talk about private cars and taxis. Addresses – if we just give the name of the street.

In – place: For position inside large areas, e.g. countries, cities, regions, large islands…: I live in Spain. I work in Puerto de la Cruz. My parents live in New Zealand now.

In – place: For position in three-dimensional space, e.g. a room, a building, a park… She’s in her bedroom/ in a museum. There is some sugar in the cupboard. He’s in the garden. I walk in the park every afternoon. Who’s that up in the tree? I love to bathe in the river.

In – place: Transport – to talk about private cars and taxis: Look! Ana is in a new Volkswagen. Come on, we're late - get in the car. I always go home in a taxi.

In – place: Addresses – if we just give the name of the street: She lives in Queen Anne Street.

On – place: For position in a small area, e.g. a small island. For position on a surface: on a table, on a page, on a shelf, on the floor, on the roof, on the ceiling, on the wall, on the balcony, on a lake, on the beach… Transport – to talk about travel using a bus, plane, train, underground, motorcycle, bicycle, ship, horse... and when you go walking (on foot). Addresses – in American English if we just give the name of the street.

On – place: For position in a small area, e.g. a small island: They live on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

On – place: For position on a surface: on a table, on a page, on a shelf, on the floor, on the roof, on the ceiling, on the wall, on the balcony, on a lake, on the beach… Leave your things on the table over there. The map is on page 43. I live in a flat on the fourth floor. We always spend the weekend in a boat on the lake.

On – place: 3. Transport – to talk about travel using a bus, plane, train, underground, motorcycle, bicycle, ship, horse... and when you go walking (on foot): I never sleep on a plane. I get on the bus at 9. I come to work on my bike. We always go to France on the ferry. It’s quicker to get there on foot.

On – place: 4. Addresses – in American English if we just give the name of the street: She lives on Queen Anne Street.

At – place: For position at a point. With the name of a building when we are interested in the activity that happens there (not in the dimensions of the place), or when we consider it as a point. With the names of group activities, e.g. at a party, at a meeting, at a match, at a concert… Addresses – if we give the number alone or both the number and name of the street.

At – place: For position at a point: I am at the bus stop. There's someone at the door. We use it with cities and place names, when we are talking about stopping during a journey, i.e. when we consider the place as a point: The bus stops at Puerto de la Cruz.

At – place: With the name of a building when we are interested in the activity that happens there (not in the dimensions of the place), or when we consider it as a point, e.g. at the station, at the airport, at school, at university, at work, at home…: There is a security alert at Delhi's international airport. She is at university. Is Jessica still at school? Dad's at work right now. Is she at the hairdresser’s?

At – place: With the names of group activities, e.g. at a party, at a meeting, at a match, at a concert… I am at a party with some friends. Mrs Squires is at a meeting at the moment. (We can also say in a meeting)

At – place: Addresses – if we give the number alone or both the number and name of the street: She lives at 64 Queen Anne Street. I live at number 32.