Prepositions for Place: Relating "Where"

Prepositions for Place

Relating where

In / On / At

A prepositional phrase indicates movement toward an object — person, place or thing. A preposition is followed by an object.

IN		ON		AT
Use in for larger areas.		Use on for smaller areas.		Use at for exact locations.

CITY	in San Francisco	STREET	on Powell Street	BUILDINGS	at home
DISTRICT	in Chinatown (but – downtown)	AREA	on the Peninsula		at the library
STATE	in California	ISLAND	on Alcatraz	ADDRESS	at 1220 Haight Street
REGION	in North America	WATER	on the bay, on Lake Tahoe
ATMOSPHERE	in space, in the Universe	WORLD	on earth
TRANSPORTATION	in the car	TRANSPORTATION	on board (ship, bus, train, airplane) on a bike on a horse
ROADWAYS	in the street note in the crosswalk	ROADWAYS	on the sidewalk on the road on Highway 101 on Route 66 on the freeway	ROADWAYS	at the curb at the corner at the end of the street at the intersection
OTHER	in the parking lot in the park (inexact location) in my office	OTHER	on campus	OTHER	at work at the park (exact location) at the bus stop

In vs. On

Within vs. On the Surface

In (within) vs. On (surface)

IN	ON
Usually in refers to the area within an object.	On refers to the upper, outer surface.
The tomatoes are in the bowl. The tomatoes are inside of the bowl. He placed the tomatoes into the paper bag. (in + to = inside)	The tomatoes are on the bowl. The tomatoes are on top of the bowl. He placed the tomatoes upon the window sill. (up + on)

Usually in refers to the area within an object.

On refers to the upper, outer surface.

tomatoes in a bowl The tomatoes are in the bowl.

The tomatoes are inside of the bowl.

He placed the tomatoes into the paper bag. (in + to = inside)

tomatoes on a bowl The tomatoes are on the bowl.

The tomatoes are on top of the bowl.

He placed the tomatoes upon the window sill. (up + on)

In the street vs. On the street

IN THE STREET	ON THE STREET
In the street refers more to the area within: the central, traffic area of the street. Usage varies among speakers.	on the street refers more to the surface or side of the street. Usage varies among speakers.
The workers were fixing potholes in the street. (within or below surface) People drive in the street. (center traffic area) BUT: on the freeway / on the highway He was standing in the street when a bicycle hit him. (center traffic area)	The workers were painting new lines on the street. (surface) People park on the street. (side of the street) He was picking up a dollar on the street when a bicycle hit him. (surface)
EXPRESSION Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street. (music lyrics)	EXPRESSION His man on the street interviews won an award. (expression) ("Man on the street" refers to the average person or passer-by on the sidewalk.)

IN THE STREET

ON THE STREET

In the street refers more to the area within: the central, traffic area of the street. Usage varies among speakers.

on the street refers more to the surface or side of the street. Usage varies among speakers.

potholes The workers were fixing potholes in the street. (within or below surface)

People drive in the street. (center traffic area) BUT: on the freeway / on the highway

He was standing in the street when a bicycle hit him. (center traffic area)

cars on the street The workers were painting new lines on the street. (surface)

People park on the street. (side of the street)

He was picking up a dollar on the street when a bicycle hit him. (surface)

EXPRESSION

Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street. (music lyrics)

EXPRESSION

His man on the street interviews won an award. (expression)
("Man on the street" refers to the average person or passer-by on the sidewalk.)

Pop-Q – "On/In"

In/On – Out of/Off

Public / Private Modes of Transportation

Prepositions for Transportation

PUBLIC		PRIVATE
Get on – off are used for a bus, plane, ship or train. (Originally, from "on board" or "aboard" a wooden ship, on now refers to all public or mass transportation: on a bus, on a ship, on a plane, on a ferry.) The expression CANNOT be separated by an object or object pronoun.		Get in - out of are used for enclosed, private transportation. On - off are used for other modes such as bikes and motorcycles. The expression CANNOT be separated by an object or object pronoun.
Get on the bus.	Get off the bus.	Get on the motorcycle. (open-air)	Get off the motorcycle.
Get on the plane.	Get off the plane.	Get on the bicycle. (open-air)	Get off the bicycle.
Get on the ship.	Get off the ship.	Get in the car. (enclosed)	Get out of of the car.
Get on the train.	Get off the train.	Get in the taxi / limousine. (enclosed)	Get out of of the taxi / limousine.
Get on the elevator. (Br. Eng – lift)	Get off the elevator.	Get in the elevator. (enclosed – usage varies)	Get out of of the elevator.
Get on the escalator. (moving stairs)	Get off the train.
*Get it on.		*Get the elevator in.

*See Phrasal Verbs (inseparable) | Pop-Q "Get_on"

A wing-walker on a plane!

In the plane vs. On the plane

IN THE PLANE	ON THE PLANE
Refers to the area within, to the actual space inside.	Refers to boarding or being aboard; or on the surface. (Originally from "on board" a wooden ship, on now refers to all mass transportation: on a bus, on a ship, on a plane, on a ferry.)
We were crowded together in the plane.	We got on the plane last.
The luggage travels in a pressurized cabin in the plane.	We were on the plane for ten hours.
Aluminum and titanium was used in the plane to reduce its weight. (construction materials)	The Hollywood stunt man stood on the plane while it was flying. (on top of)

Expressions – How did you go there?

VEHICLE	SELF
When telling how something is done (means or method) use by.	Use on for personal mode.
I went by car. (by plane, ship, train)	I went on foot.

VEHICLE

SELF

When telling how something is done (means or method) use by.

Use on for personal mode.

car I went by car. (by plane, ship, train)

on foot I went on foot.

Relative Placement

Relating "where" to an object

Compare

AN ADVERB FOR PLACE	A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE FOR PLACE
Adverbs express movement in a direction. An adverb tells us where an activity happened, but it does not relate the movement to another object.	Prepositional phrases are more specific by relating an object to the direction of movement. They tell us where — in relation to an object — an activity happened.
The egg rolled . (The little, toy egg, shown here, has wooden legs.)	The egg is sitting the apple.

AN ADVERB FOR PLACE

A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE FOR PLACE

Adverbs express movement in a direction. An adverb tells us where an activity happened, but it does not relate the movement to another object.

Prepositional phrases are more specific by relating an object to the direction of movement. They tell us where — in relation to an object — an activity happened.

movement in a direction The egg rolled .

(The little, toy egg, shown here, has wooden legs.)

relationship to another object The egg is sitting the apple.

Some words can be used as a preposition or an adverb. See Adv. & Prep List

in front of	behind in back of	in inside	next to aside of beside
between (2 items) among (3+ items)	on / upon on top of	under below	above over

One-Word Prepositions for Place

aboard (ship, bus, plane)	atop	inside	past
about	before	into	through
above	behind	near	throughout
across	below	next	to
after	beneath	of	toward / towards
against	beside / besides	off	under
along	between (2 objects)	on	underneath
amid / amidst (non-count object)	beyond	onto	up
among / amongst (3+ or noncount objects)	by	opposite	upon
around	down	out	with
aside	from	outside	within
at	in	over

Place words that are not prepositions Adv. & Prep List

Two- and Three- Word Prepositions for Place

ahead of	close to	in front of	next to
apart from	far away from	inside of / in the bottom of	on the bottom of
aside of	far from	in the middle of	on top of / on the top of
away from	in back of	near to	outside of / on the outside of

Advanced

Relative Variations

BETWEEN	AMONG / AMONGST
Use between with two items. (Use in between for something located at a midpoint on an imaginary line.)	Use among with three or more items or with a noncount noun. A variation occurs, amongst, with the final -st (against, amidst) which mostly occurs in British English.
The egg is between the apple and the pear. He stood between a rock and a hard place. (expression) The egg is in between the apple and the pear. (location – in line) My husband and I keep our secrets between ourselves. (exclusive to others)	Place the apple among the fruit. (noncount) Decide among yourselves. (count) Gossip passed among the villagers. (count) He is only one among many. (count) They lived among the Indians. (count)

BETWEEN

AMONG / AMONGST

Use between with two items. (Use in between for something located at a midpoint on an imaginary line.)

Use among with three or more items or with a noncount noun. A variation occurs, amongst, with the final -st (against, amidst) which mostly occurs in British English.

egg between The egg is between the apple and the pear.

He stood between a rock and a hard place. (expression)

The egg is in between the apple and the pear. (location – in line)

My husband and I keep our secrets between ourselves. (exclusive to others)

egg among Place the apple among the fruit. (noncount)

Decide among yourselves. (count)

Gossip passed among the villagers. (count)

He is only one among many. (count)

They lived among the Indians. (count)

IN THE MIDDLE OF	AMID / AMIDST
Use in the middle of to specify a middle placement: in a location, or on a field or plane (a mathematical plane); also, to specify being among or surrounded by things or people.	Use amid to specify being among or surrounded by things or people. A variation, amidst, mostly occurs in British English.
The egg is in the middle of the chess board. (location) The egg is in the middle of the refrigerator. (location) The egg is sitting in the middle of the water. (thing – noncount) The egg is sitting in the middle of the pot of water. (thing – count) He sat in the middle of the people and played his guitar. (people) sounds awkward	The egg is amid the chess board. (location) The egg is amid the refrigerator. (location) The egg is sitting amid / amidst the rice. (thing – noncount) The egg is sitting amid / amidst the beans. (things – count) He sat amid / amidst the students and played his guitar. (people) Helen stood amidst the ruins of Troy and cried. (poetic usage)
Use in the middle of to specify a mid point of a project or state of consciousness.	Use amid for being around noisy, busy or confusing events.
I'm in the middle of something right now. I'll call you back. (a project) She's in the middle of a dream / a nightmare / a temper tantrum.	The dollar fell amid / amidst rumors of a weak economy. He stepped back amid / amidst the shouts of angry people.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
ruins (n.) – parts of a building or fortress left after the rest has been destroyed
temper tantrum (n.) – display of childish rage or frustration: crying, head-banging, kicking

Practice1

Home

Select the response that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	FEEDBACK
e.g.	Is there a heaven earth?
1.	My home town California is a wonderful place to live.
2.	I live a suburb not far from a busy city
3.	My house is 1235 Main Court.
4.	We are the end of the street.
5.	The neighborhood is not far from the small business area First Street.
6.	Our little city, is located a peninsula.
7.	The peninsula borders San Francisco Bay.
8.	From my window, I can see little boats sailing the bay.
9.	Occasionally, I can see whales the bay.
10.	I can also see cars the freeway heading to and from the city.
11.	To the north, I can see airplanes getting ready to take-off the runway.
12.	By now you have guessed that my home is a hill.
13.	While sitting my couch, I can through my window and see a spectacular view.
14.	In the evening, all the kids our neighborhood play ball on the street.
15.	Some play basketball a court marked by chalk.
16.	Others play ping-pong a neighbor's garage.
17.	They play an old table that's been there for years.
18.	Everyone feels " home" when visiting each other's houses.
19.	Many of the kids hope to grow up and buy a home an area like this.
20.	They like living a community like this as well.

Practice 2

Rabbits

Select the response that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR ANSWER	CHECK
21.	A rabbit tends to make its home a creek. (creek=small river)
22.	It digs a home the side of a hill.
23.	If the rabbit digs the hole thick brush or trees, it will be safer.
24.	To see other approaching animals, the rabbit stands the hill.
25.	To find food, the rabbit hops the grassy sides of the hill.
26.	Sometimes, it has to go the creek to find food on the other side.
27.	A rabbit likes to make its hole other rabbit holes.
28.	Rabbits have more protection when living a colony.
29.	If there are too many rabbits in one area, some have to move the hill.
30.	Rabbits are herbivores and eat grass that grows the hill.
31.	You probably won't notice any rabbits if you stand a hill.
32.	However, if you get closer you will see rabbit holes the rocks and bushes.
33.	A rabbit won't come its hole until it has smelled the air for predators.
34.	Rabbits can dig several feet a hill to make a cozy home.
35.	In "Alice in Wonderland", Alice falls a rabbit hole.
36.	In the story, she is a tree and is listening to a story that her sister is reading.
37.	She sees a rabbit and follows it a hole to a world of "nonsense".
38.	In real life, rabbit holes are just tunnels with a little grass nest the back of the hole.
39.	Rabbits prefer their own "rooms", so there are not connecting tunnels holes.
40.	Rabbits thrive in the wild until developers decide to build their habitat.

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