📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Beginner (A1), week 7
Prepositions of place tell us where something is. You need them for directions, finding things in shops and describing your home.
The rules
Common prepositions
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| in | The keys are in my bag. |
| on | Your phone is on the table. |
| under | The cat is under the bed. |
| next to | The bank is next to the post office. |
| between | The café is between the bank and the chemist. |
| opposite | The bus stop is opposite the school. |
| behind / in front of | The car park is behind the shop. |
| on the corner of | It's on the corner of King Street and George Street. |
Remember
- Use 'in' for inside a space: in the kitchen, in the car, in Sydney.
- Use 'on' for a surface or a street: on the shelf, on King Street.
- Use 'at' for a point or an address: at the bus stop, at 22 Smith Street.
- Opposite means 'on the other side of the road, facing'.
Listen and repeat
- The milk is in aisle three.
- The station is opposite the library.
- Our house is between the park and the school.
- Turn left. It's on the corner.
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The bank is next to the post office. | next to (not 'next'). | |
| I live on King Street. | Australians say 'on' a street. | |
| between the bank and the café | between … and … |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use Prepositions of place in English?
Prepositions of place tell us where something is. You need them for directions, finding things in shops and describing your home. Use 'in' for inside a space: in the kitchen, in the car, in Sydney.
What are common mistakes with Prepositions of place?
Say 'The bank is next to the post office.', not 'The bank is next the post office.' (next to (not 'next')). Say 'I live on King Street.', not 'I live in King Street.' (Australians say 'on' a street). Say 'between the bank and the café', not 'between the bank with the café' (between … and …).
What level is this Prepositions of place lesson?
It's a Beginner (A1) lesson, week 7 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.