English Grammar: Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place are words that describe where something or someone is located in relation to something else. They help us answer questions like “Where?” or “In what position?” Let’s explore some common prepositions of place:

1. On – We use “on” to indicate that something is positioned physically above or in contact with a surface. For example:
   • The book is on the table.
   • The picture is on the wall.
   • The cat is sitting on the mat.
2. In – We use “in” to express that something is enclosed or surrounded by something else. For example:
   • The keys are in the drawer.
   • The children are playing in the park.
   • The milk is in the fridge.
3. Under – We use “under” to convey that something is positioned beneath or below something else. For example:
   • The shoes are under the bed.
   • The dog is hiding under the table.
   • The pen rolled under the chair.
4. Next to – We use “next to” to describe something or someone being positioned adjacent or beside another object or person. For example:
   • The lamp is next to the sofa.
   • Sarah is sitting next to John.
   • The restaurant is next to the bank.
5. Between – We use “between” to indicate the position of something or someone in the middle of two objects or people. For example:
   • The book is between the two bookends.
   • The park is between the school and the library.
   • The cat is sitting between the two pillows.
6. Behind – We use “behind” to express that something or someone is positioned at the back of another object or person. For example:
   • The car is parked behind the house.
   • Jack is standing behind the tree.
   • The teacher is standing behind the students.
7. In front of – We use “in front of” to describe something or someone being positioned ahead or before another object or person. For example:
   • The bus stop is in front of the mall.
   • Tom is sitting in front of Mary.
   • The billboard is in front of the building.
8. Beside – We use “beside” to convey that something is located at the side of another object or person. For example:
   • The chair is beside the desk.
   • The cat is sleeping beside the dog.
   • The grocery store is beside the bank.
9. Among – We use “among” to indicate the position of something or someone in the middle of a group or objects. For example:
   • The toy is among the other toys.
   • The red flower is among the yellow flowers.
   • The pen is among the pencils.
10. Above – We use “above” to describe something or someone being positioned at a higher point or level. For example:
    • The birds are flying above the trees.
    • The airplane is above the clouds.
    • The clock is above the door.