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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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?

15. 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)

16. 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.