Prepositions of Place: AT, IN, ON

Prepositions of Place: AT, IN, ON (Clear Guide with Examples)

Many English learners feel unsure about AT, IN, and ON — and that’s perfectly normal. These three little prepositions can be surprisingly tricky, because they all talk about location, but each one does it in a slightly different way. Prepositions of Place: AT, IN, ON

Today’s lesson will help you understand the difference once and for all. Think of it as your handy map for describing where things and people are.

AT – a specific point or spot

AT is used when we think of a place as a point on a map — a specific spot where something happens. It does not describe the inside of a space, but the exact location.

Common uses:

at the desk / table / computer

at the bus stop / railway station / airport

at the entrance / door / gate

at the crossroads / junction

at the top of the mountain / hill / building

at Clare’s house / at home

Example sentences:

• They felt incredibly proud when they finally arrived at the top of the mountain.
• Call me on my landline — I’ll be at home all day.
• Jane was standing at the door when she spotted them coming up the path.
• We agreed to meet at the bus station at half past three.

Quick tip:

If the location feels like a fixed point, use AT.

IN – inside a space or area

IN is used when something is inside a limited space — a room, a container, a country, a city, or a group.

Common uses:

in a bus / car / taxi (inside the vehicle)

in a building / restaurant / café / school / hospital

in a bag / suitcase / wallet

in London / New York

in Mexico / the UK

in the news / magazine / newspaper

Example sentences: Prepositions of Place: AT, IN, ON

• She found a pair of jeans in her wardrobe that she hadn’t worn for years.
• The children were laughing in the back of the taxi as it drove away.
• I’ve never lived in Mexico, but I’d love to visit.
• He read an interesting interview in the newspaper this morning.

Quick tip:

If something is surrounded by borders, walls, pages, or limits — use IN.

ON – on a surface or line

ON is used when something is on top of a surface, or when we think of a place as a line (road, street, coast).

Common uses:

on the wall / ceiling

on the table / desk / shelf

on the floor / carpet / rug

on a street / road

on a river / beach / coast / island

on the website / page / screen

Example sentences:

• They hung a large painting on the wall above the fireplace.
• Your keys are on the table — right next to your notebook.
• The restaurant is on King Street, opposite the post office.
• You’ll find more details about ticket reservations on our website.

Quick tip: Prepositions of Place: AT, IN, ON

If you can imagine touching a surface, use ON.

Mini Summary Table

Download Prepositions of Place AT, IN, ON Exercise + Answer Key in PDF here

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