Prepositions of Place for intermediate learners
Prepositions allow us to talk about the relationship between two words in a sentence. Here, we will discuss the different prepositions of place in English.
What Are Prepositions of Place?
When we want to indicate the location of something or someone, we use the prepositions of place. In this lesson, we will learn all about them.
What Kinds of Prepositions of Place Do We Have?
Based on their meanings and how we use them, prepositions of place are categorized into five groups listed below:
- Prepositions used to show Location (on, at, in)
- Prepositions used to show Horizontal Position (above, over, below, under, on, beneath)
- Prepositions used to show Distance (near, beside, next to, by, beyond)
- Prepositions used to show Direction (up, down, in front of, behind)
- Prepositions used for Enclosed Area (in, within, inside, outside)
In this lesson, we are going to get to know three of them.
Prepositions Used to Show Location (on, at, in)
These three prepositions are very common among native speakers. They are simply used to indicate the location of something or someone. Let us analyze each one separately:
On
If you remember, 'on' is a preposition of both time and place. Usually, to indicate a floor in a building, public transport, rivers, lakes, streets, or something being physically attached to a surface, we use 'on' as the preposition of place. Take a look at the following examples:
She is waiting for you
Mr. Hedwig's office is
There are many pictures of different rock and metal musicians
At
The second preposition in this category is 'at'. It is used to indicate specific places and locations such as addresses, events, public places, and some buildings like institutions and organizations. Let us take a look at the following examples:
She's standing
Can you meet me
I'll see you
In
When we want to talk about a specific area within a larger space, we use 'in'. Let us take a look at the following examples:
Mike is
I said we can talk
Prepositions Used to Show Distance (near, beside, next to, by, beyond)
These prepositions are also called prepositions of proximity. When we want to indicate how close someone or something is to another, we mainly use these prepositions. Let us look at some examples below:
I'm standing right
Would you please sit
Warning!
Please note that 'beside' and 'next to' emphasize the closeness of someone or something more than 'by'.
Beyond
Beyond is used to show something or someone that is far off. Study the following examples:
We drove a bit
Tip!
It might come in handy to know that beyond can also mean that something is not in our power. Take a look at the following example:
Such projects are far
Here, beyond is used to indicate that something cannot be done.
Prepositions Used to Show Direction ( up, down, in front of, behind)
When we want to indicate different directions, we use these prepositions. Let us examine each below:
Up/Down
When we want to talk about the position of something in regard to something else, we use these two prepositions. 'Up' is used when the object is in a higher position whereas, 'down' is used when the object is in a lower state. Let us study some examples below:
The mansion is located on the hill
You can find a cheap restaurant
In Front of/Behind
When we want to indicate the front or the backsides of something or someone, we mainly use these two prepositions. 'In front of' is used to indicate something facing another, and 'behind' is used when something is on the backside of another. Take a look at the following examples:
How dare you stand right
The blue truck is
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