Prepositions of Place

at, in and on are the most important prepositions of place, though there are others too.

For example: about; across; against; among; before; behind; below; beside; between; by; from; into; near; over; round; through; to; towards; under; up; upon; within.

at, in, on

Use Case 1: Bigger Vs. Smaller place

We use ‘in’ for comparatively bigger place and ‘at’ for comparatively smaller place.

He lives at Noida in India.
He lives at Sector 19 in Noida.

Use Case 2: Street Names

We use ‘in’ or ‘on’ with the names of streets and ‘at’ before an address (i.e. when we give the house-number along with the name of the street).

He lives in Lincoln Street.
The temple is in/on Ring Road.
He lives at 18 Lincoln Street.

When we talk about long streets or roads, we sometimes use ‘on’ instead of ‘in’.

The village is on the Eastern Expressway.

Use Case 3: Point Vs. Area Vs. Volume

Concept 1

While talking about a place, we use ‘at’ to imply a point.

Write you name on the bottom of the page. (incorrect)
Write you name at the bottom of the page. (correct)

Concept 2

We use ‘on’ to imply an area (i.e. a 2D surface) or a line such as a road or river.

Put your signature at the back of the card. (incorrect)
Put your signature on the back of the card. (correct; because we are talking about area here)

The dog is lying on the floor.
Put this picture on the wall.
She owns a house on the Thames river.

Use Case 4: Direction with respect to the Border of a Country

Concept 1

To mean that something is inside the country - We use ‘in’

Mumbai is to west of India. (incorrect)
Mumbai is in west of India. (correct)

Concept 2

To mean that something is outside the country - We use ‘to’

China is in the north of India. (incorrect)
China is to the north of India. (correct)

Use Case 5: City Vs. Institution/Event

As you will soon see, sometimes we can use both ‘at’ and ‘in’, but it may change the meaning of the sentence a bit.

We use ‘at’ to talk about an institution/event.

We met in Milan. (correct; use of ‘in’ means that we are talking about the city of Milan)
We met at Milan. (correct; here the use of the place name means we are talking about an institution or event, e.g. the Milan festival, the Milan fashion event etc.)

Labour party is going to have a press conference at Downing Street tomorrow.

into, onto, upon (To denote motion)

In and Into

When a thing reaches the state of ‘in’ after doing movement, the we do not use ‘in + object’. Instead there we use ‘into + object’.

We are playing in the sports club. (i.e. they are already inside or within the club)

We jumped into the swimming pool. (i.e. they entered or inserted themselves into the pool. So, a movement has been indicated.)

On and Onto

‘Onto’ means ‘to a position on some area‘. It denotes both destination and motion. (while ‘on’ denotes only an area or surface.)

She jumped onto her horse and rode away.

Is there anything onto my forehead? (incorrect)
Is there anything on my forehead? (correct)

On and Upon

On – We use it in case of no motion.
Upon – We use it in case of motion.

The books are on the table. (books are placed in contact with the table)
The cat jumped upon the rat. (cat was in motion)

In and On

For travel using taxis and cars, we use ‘in’.

I was having my lunch in the car when you called me.

For travel using bus, coach, plane, or train we use ‘on’.

I will go on the plane.

But we use ‘in’ if we want to emphasise inside the bus, coach, plane, or train etc.

We are in the yellow bus.

out, outside, inside

Out Vs. Out of

Out: It means out, but don’t know where (i.e. maybe somewhere else, not nearby.)
It does not act as preposition.

‘Out’ as adverb of place:
Subject + verb + … + out

My parents will be out this evening. (this evening – denotes time, it’s not an object)

Out of: It means out of something; among the available
It acts as preposition.

My parents are out of town.

Outside Vs. Inside

Outside: It means in the adjoining area but nearby.

Outside/Inside as preposition:
Subject + verb + outside/inside + object

Children are playing outside the house. (emphasis on out but nearby)
Children are playing inside the house.

Outside/Inside as adverb of place:
Subject + verb + … + outside/inside

I am going outside. (going where? - outside)
I am going inside. (going where? - inside)

across and over

Across

‘Across’ – it may have many meanings:

• from one to the other side (in case of 2-D Movement)
  
  I swam across the lake. (from one to the other side)

• at the other end / on the opposite side
  
  Amitabh Bachchan lives across the road from my house. (at the other end)

• both sides
  
  A pole fell across the railway line blocking the track. (covering both sides)

• all over
  
  Indians are respected all across the world for their intelligence. (all over)

Over

Concept 1

‘Over’ can mean many things:

• just above
  A bridge was built over the river. (just above)

• to cover something
  I put a piece of plastic over the table. (to cover something)
  He put a rug over the old man. (to cover something)
  She spread a mat over the floor. (to cover something)
  She opened an umbrella over her head. (to cover something)

• above (motion)
  The ball bounced over the fence. (above - motion)
  He jumped over the boundary wall. (above - motion)

• more than
  It has cost me over twenty dollars.  

• during
  A lot can happen over coffee.  

• because of / concerning something
  Their argument was over the money.  

• by means of
  You will be informed about our decision over the phone.

• from this end to that end
  My parrot flew over the river to the other side of the farm.

Concept 2

Over + meal/drink – it means while taking the drink/meal
We discussed this over breakfast yesterday.

Over + place – it means everywhere at a particular place
It is very noisy over there.

Across and Over

Concept 1

To talk about a position on the other side of, or getting to the other side of a bridge, road, border, river, etc. → We can use across or over.

The bus came towards me across/over the bridge.

Once he was across/over the Korea border, he felt safe.

Concept 2

To talk about reaching the other side of something that is high (or higher than it is wide) → We use ‘over’ (rather than across)

My dog got hurt as he jumped over the fence.

Rather then going through a tunnel, we will go over the top of the mountain.

Comes across

Come across – it means to meet by chance (i.e. suddenly)

While reading the newspaper, I came across an interesting article on resume writing.

Concept 1

As ‘come across’ means to meet suddenly or by chance. So, we will not use ‘suddenly’ or ‘by chance’ with it, or else the sentence will become superfluous.

I went to Starbucks and suddenly came across my ex-wife. (incorrect; superfluous sentence)

Concept 2

Also we cannot use ‘with’ with ‘come across’.

I came across with him. (incorrect)
I came across him. (correct)

above, over, below, under

Above

‘Above’ can mean many things:

• Above something (stationary)
  
  There is a fan above my head. (Above something - stationary)

• More than (Rank / Level / Mark / Fixed Point / Temperature / Age)
  
  How can I go against him? He is above me. (More than, i.e. above in rank)
  The temperature is above 25 degree Celsius. (More than)
  I think he is above forty years in age. (more than the given age; here above = over)

• Mentioned earlier
  
  See the examples given above. (mentioned earlier)

Above and Over

Now let us see when to use ‘above’ and ‘over’.

Concept 1

To say that one thing is at a higher level than another → We can use either ‘above’ or ‘over’

She has painted very dark eyebrows above/over each of my eye.

Concept 2

To say that one thing is not directly over the other → We use above (not over)

The royal castle is on those mountains over the town. (incorrect)
The royal castle is on those mountains above the town. (correct; the castle is not just over the town, it’s on a higher level near the town)

The sword is hanging above/over your head. (correct; sword is directly overhead)

Concept 3

We use over (not above), in following cases:

• when we say that something covers something else (whether there is physical contact or not)
  
  Germans have built a bridge over the river.
  Can you put a blanket over the puppy?

• when we are talking about horizontal movement.
  
  We just saw a police helicopter fly out over the corn fields.

Under

‘Under’ can mean many things:

• Just under / Vertically downward
  
  I was standing under a tree. (vertically downward)

• Subordinate
  
  He works under me. (subordinate)

• When the object seems to have been covered by another object
  
  We are sitting under one roof. (covered by another object)

Over Vs. Under

‘over’ and ‘under’ respectively indicate placed ‘higher’ or ‘below’ something.

We are lucky to have a roof over our head.

A rat is hiding under the table.

Below

‘Below’ can mean many things:

• Just under / Vertically downward
  
  See the examples given below.

• Subordinate (below in rank)
  
  He is below me. (i.e. below in rank)

• Below something/someone (In case of grade / mark / level / fixed point)
  
  The temperature is below 20 degree Celsius.
  Boys below 2 years are not allowed here.

Below and Under

Now let us see when to use ‘below’ and ‘under’.

The differences in the use cases of ‘below’ and ‘under’ are similar to those between ‘above’ and ‘over’.

Concept 1

To say that one thing is at a lower level than another → We can use either ‘below’ or ‘under’

There is a metro line below/under the building.

Concept 2

To say that one thing is not directly under the other → We use below (not under)

The paddy fields are in that valley under the town. (incorrect)
The paddy fields are in that valley below the town. (correct; the paddy fields are not just under the town, they are on a lower level near the town)

Millions of people are living under poverty line. (incorrect)
Millions of people are living below poverty line. (correct)

Underneath and Beneath

Underneath - below / hidden / covered
Beneath – below / under / low standard

He was wearing a shirt underneath his coat. (i.e. just below as a layer)
This card was hidden underneath the pillow. (i.e. was covered)

I was standing beneath a tree. (i.e. under a tree)
My dad says that this work is beneath us. (i.e. of low standard as per our standards)

Along

We use ‘along’ to talk about following a line of some kind (a path, a road, a river, a beach, a canal, etc.).

I was just sitting at the window, watching people walk along the road.
We walked a long distance along the beach.

Along with

‘along with’ - it means together with someone or something.

Come along with me.

Through

‘Through’ – it may have many meanings:

• movement from one side/end of a 3D space to the other.
  
  We pushed our way through the crowd of people to get to the stage.
  
  Compare the following sentences:
  
  The hunter walked through the bushes to get to the prey. (i.e. he moved from one side of the bushes to the other)
  The hunter kept on looking for the prey in the bushes. (i.e. he stayed in the bushes)

• from the beginning to the end of a process / series / state / stage etc.
  
  I can’t sit through the meeting. (i.e. from the beginning to the end of a process)

Across Vs. Through

Across and Through are a bit similar in their meaning.

‘Across’ indicates movement in 2D space (e.g. flat surface or area). On the other hand, ‘Through’ indicates movement in a three dimensional (3D) space, rather than a 2D space.

Please draw a line through the page. (incorrect)
Please draw a line across the page. (correct; i.e. a line from side of the page to the other)

by, beside, next (to)

To say that one thing or person is at the side of another → We use beside, by, or next to

Nicole sat beside / by / next to Tom in the front row.

I pulled the lever beside / by / next to the machine, but it had no impact.

close to, near (to)

To mean ‘not far away‘ → We can often use either ‘near (to)’ or ‘close to’

These mangroves are often found close to / near (to) the beaches.

We live close to / near (to) the zoo.

next Vs. nearest

To say that something follows another thing in a series → We can use ‘next’ (here it acts as an adjective)

To say that one thing is closer than any other thing of the same kind → We use ‘nearest’ (rather than next).

Compare the following sentences:

When principal arrived, I left my class and went into the nearest classroom. (incorrect)
When principal arrived, I left my class and went into the next classroom. (correct)

When the rain started, I ran to the next classroom for shelter. (incorrect)
When the rain started, I ran to the nearest classroom for shelter. (correct)

Before vs. In front of Vs. Opposite

Concept 1

Before - in advance / at an earlier time / face to face
In front of - directly before or ahead of
Opposite - directly before

I came to this cave before you. (i.e. at an earlier time)
Israel raised the issue of terrorism before the U.N. (face to face)
Don’t park your bike in front of my house.
Let’s sit opposite each other in the group discussion.

Concept 2

Before – it is used in case of persons.
In front of – it is used for non-persons (i.e. it is used for all cases, except persons).
Opposite – it can be used for persons as well as non-persons, i.e. for all.

You have to appear in front of the magistrate tomorrow. (incorrect)
You have to appear before the magistrate tomorrow. (correct)

Ponting is waiting for Smith before the Opera house. (incorrect)
Ponting is waiting for Smith in front of the Opera house. (correct)

To, Towards, For

‘To’ denotes destination (and not direction).

I am going to temple.

‘Towards’ denotes ‘in the direction of’ (it shows direction and not destination)

He is going towards the temple.

‘For’ can also indicate goal/destination.

She is leaving for Germany today.

Beyond

Beyond - Out of the reach / More than the limit

Diagnosis of this patient’s symptoms is beyond the expertise of the doctors of this hospital.

Off

Off: It indicates physical separation (i.e. separation from something)

When ‘off’ works as a preposition, the pattern is:

off + object

Keep the sheep off the road.

Madhuri fell of the ladder and hurt her back. (incorrect)
Madhuri fell off the ladder and hurt her back. (correct; ‘of’ indicates relation, while ‘off’ indicates separation)

Round & Around

Round – it means ‘in an orbit’
Around – it means ‘all over’

The earth moves around the sun. (incorrect)
The earth moves round the sun. (correct)

I walked around the town to find a gift shop.

Extra Books and Tools

If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.