Prepositions of Place: In, On, At

With simple A1 grammar explanations and interactive exercises, you can learn how to use English prepositions of place (in, on, at) easily.

Prepositions of place tell us where something or someone is located. We talk about places or positions a lot with the words “in,” “on,” and “at.” Let’s look at how each one is used!

IN – Inside or within a space

We use “in” when something is inside a room, space, city, or country.

Examples:

The cat is in the box.
My phone is in my bag.
She lives in London.
There are apples in the fridge.

Tip: Use in for something surrounded by walls or borders.

ON – On a surface or a line

We use on when something is touching or resting on a surface.

Examples:

The book is on the table.
There is a picture on the wall.
The cat is on the roof.
The shop is on Main Street.

Tip: Use on for surfaces like tables, walls, and floors — or for streets.

AT – At a point or specific place

We use at to point to a specific point or place.

Examples:

She’s at the bus stop.
They are at home.
Let’s meet at the restaurant.
He’s at the corner of the street.

Tip: Use at when you think of a point or address, not a big area.

Quick Summary Table

Preposition	Use for	Example
in	Inside an area or space	She is in the kitchen.
on	On a surface	The pen is on the desk.
at	A point or place	He’s at the door

Prepositions of place: In, on, at