Prepositions of Place

Hook

“Where are my keys?” “They’re on the table, next to your phone.” Saying exactly where something is takes a small set of words called prepositions of place. You will use them every day at home, at work and in town.

Notice

  • The lamp is on the table.
  • The shoes are under the bed.
  • The sofa is next to the window.
  • The chair is between the table and the wall.
  • The cat is in the box.
  • The picture is above the sofa. The garden is behind the house.
  • The bus stop is in front of the school. The bank is opposite the park.

Which preposition means “in the middle of two things”?

Rule

PrepositionMeaningExample
ininsideThe milk is in the fridge.
ontouching a surfaceThe book is on the desk.
underbelow, coveredThe dog is under the table.
abovehigher, not touchingThe clock is above the door.
next toat the side ofThe bed is next to the window.
betweenin the middle of two thingsThe café is between the bank and the shop.
behind / in front ofat the back / at the frontThe car is in front of the house.
oppositeon the other side, facingThe school is opposite the park.

Ask: Where is the…? / Where are the…? Answer: It’s / They’re + preposition + the + place.

Watch Out

  • ✗ The picture is in the wall. → ✓ The picture is on the wall. (on a surface)
  • ✗ next the window → ✓ next to the window
  • ✗ between the bank the shop → ✓ between the bank and the shop
  • ✗ The keys is on the table. → ✓ The keys are on the table.

Practice

  1. The book is ___ the table. (on top of it)
  2. The cat is ___ the bed. (below it)
  3. The lamp is ___ the sofa and the chair.
  4. The keys are ___ the bag. (inside it)
  5. The clock is ___ the door. (higher, not touching)
  6. The garden is ___ the house. (at the back)
  7. Complete: “The bed is next ___ the window.”
  8. Ask about your glasses (Where / be).
Show the answers
  1. on
  2. under
  3. between
  4. in
  5. above
  6. behind
  7. to
  8. Where are my glasses?

Your Turn

Look around your room and write six sentences with six different prepositions: My phone is next to the lamp… Then hide an object and describe where it is to a friend.

Connect

Our Grammar Quiz has A1 questions on prepositions of place.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

Our Vocabulary lessons include everyday words for the home.

Open the Vocabulary lessons →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Production / Listening: I can describe and understand where things are in my immediate surroundings.

Azizul Hakim
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Printable worksheet (PDF) Pro

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