Prepositions of Place in English

Prepositions, while being small, play a significant role in language grammar. By using them correctly, you can show direction, time, place, location, or even introduce the subject. Today, we're talking about prepositions of place in English. Figure out what they are and how to use them, and check the list of example sentences to understand the context and improve your vocabulary!

What is a Preposition of Place?

A preposition of place is a short word, usually placed before a noun or a pronoun. They are used to indicate the location or position of something. These prepositions answer the question "where?".

Prepositions of Place Examples in Sentences

To understand the meaning and purpose of prepositions of place, take a look at the following sentences.

• The book is on the table.
• My phone is in my pocket.
• The cat is under the bed.
• The bird is above the tree.
• The car is beside the house.
• The store is near the park.

Changing any of these place prepositions completely transforms the meaning of the sentence. That is why you need to know their meanings to clearly explain what you want to say.

Using Place Prepositions in Grammar

There are many prepositions of place examples in English. Each one covers a different meaning and should be used in a specific context. Here are some of the most common ones.

• At – use it to indicate a specific point or location;

She's at school.

We met at the restaurant.

• In – use to discuss something inside the enclosed space.

The keys are in my bag.

He lives in New York.

• On – use to describe something resting on a surface.

There's a painting on the wall.

My sweater is on the chair.

• By / next to / beside – use one of these three to talk about something near or adjacent to something else.

The coffee shop is by the bookstore.

She sat next to her friend.

He placed his bag beside the chair.

• Under – use to describe something lower than or beneath another object.

The shoes are under the shelf.

We sat under the tree for shade.

• Over/above – use to describe something higher than something else.

The lamp is over the table. (directly overhead)

The clock is above the fireplace. (not necessarily touching)

List of Prepositions of Place

The prepositions of place can be divided into three main categories according to their purpose.

• Prepositions indicating a specific point or location

At → She is at the bus stop.

In → The books are in the bag.

Inside → The keys are inside the drawer.

On → There's a fly on the ceiling.

By / Next to / Beside → She sat by the window.

Near → The shop is near the bank.

Between → The park is between the school and the hospital.

Among → The deer was hiding among the trees.

• Prepositions indicating surface or placement

Over → She wears a coat over her suit.

Above → They live in the apartment above mine.

Under → He's hiding under the bridge.

Below → The valley is below the mountain.

Beneath → She kept the letter beneath the pillow.

Behind → The dog is hiding behind the couch.

In front of → There is a car in front of the house.

Opposite → The bank is opposite the post office.

• Prepositions indicating direction or movement

Into → He walked into the room.

Onto → The cat jumped onto the sofa.

Out of → She ran out of the building.

Off → He fell off the bike.

From → She moved from the city to the countryside.

Toward → The child ran toward his mother.

Prepositions of Place in Phrases

Prepositions of place can also be used in phrases to describe the location or position of something. Here are some examples of prepositions of place in phrases:

• On top of the mountain
• In the middle of the room
• At the corner of the street
• Underneath the bridge
• Beside the riverbank
• Near the beach

Additionally, prepositions of place appear in idioms and expressions with entirely different meanings. Here's a list of some popular phrases to expand your vocabulary.

• At:

At a crossroads  – facing a major decision.

At the drop of a hat – immediately, without hesitation.

At someone's beck and call – always available to serve someone.

• In:

In the same boat – in the same difficult situation as someone else.

In hot water – in trouble.

In the long run – over time, eventually.

• On:

On cloud nine – extremely happy.

On thin ice – in a risky situation.

On the same wavelength – thinking in a similar way.

• Under:

Under the weather – feeling sick.

Under someone's thumb – completely controlled by someone.

Under fire – criticized or attacked.

• Over and above:

Over the moon – extremely happy.

Over my dead body – absolutely not allowed.

Above one's pay grade – beyond one's authority or expertise.

• Between:

Between a rock and a hard place  – facing two difficult choices.

Caught between two stools – unable to choose between two options and failing both.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea – stuck between two dangerous or bad choices.

• Behind:

Behind the eight ball – in a difficult or disadvantaged position.

Behind someone's back – secretly, without someone knowing.

• Inside/outside:

Inside out – completely reversed or thoroughly understood.

Outside the box – thinking in a creative, unconventional way.

• Onto/into:

Onto something – discovering something valuable or important.

Into thin air – disappear suddenly or mysteriously.

• Out of:

Out of the blue – unexpectedly.

Out of one's league – beyond someone's ability or status.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire – escaping one problem only to face a worse one.

Common Mistakes

Using prepositions of place can be tricky, and it's easy to make mistakes. Here are the most common issues related to this topic.

• Using the wrong preposition. For example, using "in" instead of "on" or "at" instead of "beside."
• Not using a preposition at all. In some cases, you might hear someone saying, "The book is the table" instead of "The book is on the table." 
• Using the wrong word order. Messing with the word order completely changes the meaning of the sentence, like saying, "The table is on the book" instead of "The book is on the table."

At first glance, these subtle changes have a huge impact on the clarity of your speech. Pay attention to these nuances, and you'll be able to understand and avoid many common pitfalls.

Summary

Prepositions of place are an essential part of English grammar. Using them correctly helps clarify where things are in relation to something else. Continue practicing them, and check out more handy grammar references for learners below!