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Master English Grammar

Prepositions of Place

Practice using common prepositions of place like in, on, under, behind, next to, and between to describe where things are.

What Are Prepositions of Place?

Prepositions of place show the position of a person or object in relation to another object. They help us describe where things are. Examples include in, on, under, behind, next to, and between.

Key Points

  • Use in to show something is inside something else
    • The books are in the bag.
    • She is in the room.
  • Use on to show something is on the surface of something
    • The keys are on the table.
    • He is sitting on the chair.
  • Use under to show something is below something else
    • The shoes are under the bed.
    • The cat is hiding under the table.

Why Is This Important?

Using prepositions of place helps you clearly describe the location of objects and people, making your communication precise and easy to understand.

✅ Positive Sentences:

Use prepositions to describe where things are.

  • The phone is on the table.
  • The cat is under the chair.
  • The picture is next to the window.

🚫 Negative Sentences:

Use prepositions in negative sentences to describe where things are not.

  • The book is not in the bag.
  • The keys are not on the table.
  • The cat is not under the bed.

Rules for Using Prepositions of Place

  • Use in to describe something inside an enclosed space

    • The milk is in the fridge.
    • She is in the car.

  • Use on to describe something resting on a surface

    • The book is on the table.
    • The clock is on the wall.

  • Use under to describe something below another object

    • The shoes are under the bed.
    • The dog is under the table.

  • Use behind to describe something at the back of something else

    • The chair is behind the desk.
    • The car is parked behind the building.

  • Use next to to describe something beside another object

    • The lamp is next to the bed.
    • She is sitting next to her friend.

  • Use between to describe something in the middle of two objects

    • The ball is between the shoes.
    • The park is between the school and the library.
PrepositionExample
inThe apples are in the basket.
onThe phone is on the table.
underThe cat is under the chair.
behindThe car is behind the house.
next toThe school is next to the park.
betweenThe ball is between the shoes.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.