Prepositions of Place on English

Understanding prepositions of place is essential for describing locations and giving directions in English. These small but powerful words help us explain where things are in relation to other objects.

Prepositions of place answer the question "Where?" and are used daily in conversations, instructions, and descriptions. Mastering these will significantly improve your ability to communicate spatial relationships clearly and accurately.

1. Basic Prepositions of Place

These are the most common prepositions used to describe the position of objects. They establish fundamental spatial relationships that form the foundation for more complex descriptions.

in / inside

Use when something is enclosed or surrounded

  • The book is in the bag
  • She's inside the house

on

Use when something is touching a surface

  • The cup is on the table
  • The picture is on the wall

under / below

Use when something is beneath something else

  • The cat is under the chair
  • Temperature is below zero

2. Position Relative to Objects

These prepositions describe where something is located in relation to another object. They help create more precise descriptions of placement and arrangement.

next to / beside

Use when objects are at the side of each other

  • She sits next to me in class
  • The bank is beside the post office

between

Use when something is in the middle of two things

  • The park is between the school and library
  • I'm sitting between my two friends

in front of / behind

Use to describe forward and backward position

  • The car is in front of the house
  • He's standing behind me in line

3. More Specific Locations

These prepositions provide more detailed information about exact positioning. They're particularly useful for giving precise directions or describing complex arrangements.

above / over

Use when something is higher than something else

  • The picture hangs above the sofa
  • There's a bridge over the river

near / close to

Use when something is not far away

  • I live near the city center
  • Keep the medicine close to your bed

opposite / across from

Use when something is facing another thing

  • The bank is opposite the park
  • She sat across from me at dinner

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:

  1. The cat is ____ the box. (inside)
  2. Hang the picture ____ the sofa. (above)
  3. The pharmacy is ____ the bank and the supermarket. (between)
  4. Put your shoes ____ the bed. (under)
  5. Our house is ____ the school. (near)

Tip: Create sentences about objects in your room using different prepositions of place.