Where to Use 'On', 'At', and 'In' to Talk about Places in English
- Martina Gardiner
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Understanding how to use prepositions can be challenging for new English speakers, especially the words "on," "at," and "in." These small words have a big impact on meaning.
You can use these small words to talk about TIME or PLACE.
Let's work together to understand how to use prepositions correctly when talking about places.
Using "In"
The preposition "in" is used to talk about being inside a space or area. It can be about physical spaces, areas with boundaries, or even larger geographic areas.
Here are some ways to use "in":
Enclosed spaces: The dog is in the house.
Countries or cities: She lives in Canada.
Neighbourhoods : I live in Mahogany
Using "On"
The preposition "on" is used to talk about an object on a surface. For example “The book is on the table” tells us that the book is on top of the table.
You can use "on" to talk about:
Streets, Avenues: Let's meet on 3rd Street.
Islands : We are travelling on Vancouver Island.
Large Vehicles: We flew on a plane to Toronto.
Surfaces: The plate is on the counter.
As you practice, remember to use "on" when the object is touching a a surface. It might be physical (like a table - the plate is on the table) or imaginary (like a guest list - Jim is on the guest list).
Using "At"
"At" is used to talk about a specific point or location. Here are some examples of how to use "at":
Specific locations: I will meet you at the library. I will meet you at the corner of 3rd Street & 4th Avenue.
Addresses: She lives at 123 Maple Street
Events: We had a lot of fun at the concert!
Remember "at" is very specific and is an exact spot.
Quick Tips
On: Think of surfaces. Ask yourself, what is something resting on?
At: Focus on specific points. Think, where is it exactly?
In: Visualize enclosed spaces. What is something inside of?
Practice
Click here for a practice worksheet!
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