All You Need To Know About Prepositions Of Place – On, In, Under, Beside, Between, Behind, Above, In Front Of

Prepositions of place are essential in English to describe the location or position of something. Words like on, in, under, beside, between, behind, above, and in front of are commonly used, and mastering them can significantly enhance your communication skills. Let’s break down each preposition with clear explanations and examples.

What Are Prepositions of Place?

Prepositions of place describe the position of a person, object, or thing in relation to another. They answer questions like “Where?” or “In what position?”

1. On

The preposition on refers to something resting on a surface.

Examples:

1. The book is on the table.
2. She placed the glass on the counter.
3. There’s a painting on the wall.
4. The phone is on the bed.
5. I left my keys on the kitchen shelf.

2. In

The preposition in is used to describe something inside a space, container, or area.

Examples:

1. The toys are in the box.
2. She lives in a small apartment.
3. There’s water in the glass.
4. He’s in the office right now.
5. The clothes are in the closet.

3. Under

The preposition under indicates that something is below or beneath another object.

Examples:

1. The shoes are under the bed.
2. The dog is hiding under the table.
3. There’s a rug under the chair.
4. He found his wallet under the couch.
5. The cat is sleeping under the car.

4. Beside

The preposition beside means next to or at the side of something.

Examples:

1. She sat beside her best friend.
2. The lamp is beside the bed.
3. There’s a park beside the school.
4. He placed the cup beside the plate.
5. The child is standing beside their parent.

5. Between

The preposition between refers to being in the middle of two objects, people, or things.

Examples:

1. The house is between the park and the grocery store.
2. She sat between her two friends.
3. There’s a river between the mountains.
4. He parked his car between two trucks.
5. The letter fell between the pages of the book.

6. Behind

The preposition behind describes something at the back of another object or person.

Examples:

1. The car is parked behind the building.
2. She hid the gift behind her back.
3. There’s a garden behind the house.
4. The chair is behind the desk.
5. The child stood behind their mother.

7. Above

The preposition above indicates that something is higher than another object but not directly touching it.

Examples:

1. There’s a mirror above the sink.
2. The painting hangs above the fireplace.
3. The airplane is flying above the clouds.
4. The shelf is above the desk.
5. There’s a ceiling fan above the dining table.

8. In Front Of

The preposition in front of describes something positioned ahead or before another object.

Examples:

1. The car is parked in front of the house.
2. She stood in front of the mirror to fix her hair.
3. There’s a tree in front of the building.
4. The teacher is standing in front of the classroom.
5. He placed the gift in front of her.

Key Takeaways

Mastering prepositions of place is crucial for describing locations accurately. Each preposition serves a specific purpose, and the examples provided should help clarify their usage. Practice using them in sentences to improve your fluency.

Additional Practice

To enhance your learning, watch the video below for more examples and explanations on how to use prepositions of place effectively!