Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Prepositional Phrases › Prepositions for Place

Prepositions for Place

Relate locational information—where the activity occurs

Prepositional Phrase vs Other Wording

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A preposition for place (locational preposition) expresses where the action in the clause takes place. One or more prepositions may be used in a series.
COMPLEMENTS TO PREPOSITIONS
Inside is a kitchen, bathroom and bed. (A kitchen, bathroom and bed is inside¹.)
The table unfolds in the middle.
The bed is in the back of the trailer. (PP + PP)
Bedding storage is above.
An air vent opens on top of the trailer.
The mini-trailer can easily move from place to place.

OTHER WORDING
A similar meaning may be expressed with locational nouns and modifying clauses (e.g., inside – interior). See list below in the next section.
OTHER WORD FORMS
The interior has a kitchen, bathroom and bed. (NP)
The table unfolds mid-way. (N)
There is a bed which is in the back of the trailer. (clause)
Storage located overhead holds bedding. (nonfinite clause²)
The roof has an air vent. (NP)
The trailer is very mobile. (Adj)

¹A prepositional phrase may occur as subject before "Identifying 'be'" which has the reciprocal property. A + B = B + A.

² Nonfinite clause: an infinitive, gerund, or past-participle clause

See Prepositional Complements regarding the range of structures that can follow a preposition.

Other Word Forms Used in Locational Expressions

Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
Locational Nouns: home, city, country, North, East, West, South, Paris, Athens, etc.
Locational Adverbs (Locational Adverbs have been moved to the category Preposition. The category Adverb is reserved for modifiers more closely related to the verb (adverbs of manner, degree, frequency, etc.)
Locational Prepositions: here, there (deictic), inside, outside, overhead, downhill, around, homeward. (See list below.)

Preposition Lists

One-, two- and three-word prepositions

Prepositions for Place (locational prepositions)

aboard (ship, bus, plane)	about	above	across
after	against	ahead of	along
amid / amidst (non-count object)	among / amongst	apart from	around
aside of	at	atop	away from ¹
before	behind	below	beneath
beside / besides	between (2 objects)	beyond	by
close to	down	far (from)	far away from ¹
from	in	in back of	inside
inside of	in the bottom of	in the middle of	in front of ¹
near	next to ¹	of	off
on	onto ¹	on the bottom of	on (the) top of
out	out of ¹	outside (of)	on the outside of
opposite	over	past	through
throughout	to	toward(s)	under
underneath	up	upon	with /within

¹ out of, inside of, upon, onto, in between as to, because of are analyzed as a composite prepositions; a fossilized combination.

See , Preps w/o objects

Prepositions that Include Nouns

here	there	abroad	ahead
apart	ashore	aside	away
downstairs	downhill	upstairs	uphill
indoors	inside	outdoors	outside
overhead	overseas	underground	underfoot
backward(s)	forward(s)	downward(s)	upward(s)
north	east	south	west

a- is a prefix that originates historically as on but now includes meanings to, in, on, into as in away, ashore, apart, aside, aboard, awhile (temporal preposition)

In On At

Specify regional, local and precise locations

Places with In, On and At

RELATIVE PRECISENESS
At is followed by a precise location (address, building). On is followed by a less precise location (street, corner). In is followed by greater area (city, state, country).
AT	ADDRESS / BUILDING
We'll meet you	at home. at 209 Main Street. at the corner of 1st and Main. at the library.
ON	STREET /
We'll meet you	on Powel Street. on the avenue. (on the Alameda) on the corner of 1st and main.
IN	CITY / AREA / STATE / COUNTRY
The event took place	in San Francisco. in the Bay Area in California in Canada in South America

EXPRESSIONS
Some expressions include parts of areas and larger areas. Other expression are idioms (in hot water).
AT – PART OF AREA	AT – OTHER
at front of the school at the top of the mountain at the side of the street	at a fork in the road ("decision time") at a crossroads ("decision time") at the end of a rope ("in need of assistance")
ON – AREA	ON – OTHER
on the beach on the mountain (geog. feature) on earth on Hawaii. (island)	on the street¹ (sidewalk, surface) on board (ship, bus, train, plane) on a bike (motorcycle) on a horse (donkey, camel)
IN – AREAS	IN – OTHER
in the Castro District in China Town in outer space in the sky in the Universe (solar system)	in the street¹ (interior) in deep ("involved, in trouble") in hot water ("in trouble") in a haze ("confused") in hospital (Br. Eng.)

Also see Prepositions for Time (in, on, at) and Prepositions for Place (in, on, at).

¹in the street vs. on the street – See section below.

(Murphy 123–125)

In vs. On

Within vs. On the Surface

In (within) vs. On (surface)

IN
Usually in refers to the area within an object. Note the prepositional phrase is placed after the object phrase (the tomatoes).
She put the tomatoes in a bowl. She put the tomatoes inside of a bowl. She placed the tomatoes into a paper bag. (in + to = inside)

Usually in refers to the area within an object. Note the prepositional phrase is placed after the object phrase (the tomatoes).

tomatoes in a bowl She put the tomatoes in a bowl.

She put the tomatoes inside of a bowl.

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

ON
On refers to the upper, outer surface. The prepositional phrase is placed after the object phrase.
She placed the tomatoes on a bowl. She placed the tomatoes on top of a bowl. She placed the tomatoes upon the window sill. (up + on)

On refers to the upper, outer surface. The prepositional phrase is placed after the object phrase.

tomato on bowl She placed the tomatoes on a bowl.

She placed the tomatoes on top of a bowl.

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

(Murphy 124 – 6)

In the street vs. On the street

IN THE STREET
In the street refers more to the area within: the central, traffic area 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)
EXPRESSION
Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street. (music lyrics)

ON THE STREET
on the street refers more to the surface or side of the street. Usage varies among speakers.
The workers were painting new lines on the street. (surface) People park their cars on the street. (side of the street) He was picking up a dollar on the street when a bicyclist hit him. (surface)
EXPRESSION
His man on the street interviews won him an award.

Solution - lightbulb Pop-Q – "On/In"
Man on the street (expression) average person or passer-by on the sidewalk.

On/Off vs. In/Out-of

Public / Private Modes of Transportation

Prepositions for Transportation

PUBLIC
Get on – off are used for a bus, plane, ship or train. ( The expression CANNOT be separated by an object or object pronoun.
Get on the bus.	Get off the bus.
Get on the plane.	Get off the plane.
Get on the ship.	Get off the ship.
Get on the train.	Get off the train.
Get on the elevator. (Br. Eng – lift)	Get off the elevator.
Get on the escalator. (moving stairs)	Get off the train.
*Get it on.	(inseparable expression)

PRIVATE
Get in - out of are used for enclosed, private transportation. On - off are used for other modes such as bikes and motorcycles.
Get on the motorcycle. (open-air)	Get off the motorcycle.
Get on the bicycle. (open-air)	Get off the bicycle.
Get on the escalator. (open stairway)	Get off the escalator.
Get in the car. (enclosed)	Get out of of the car.
Get in the taxi. (enclosed)	Get out of of the taxi.
Get in the elevator. (enclosed)	Get out of of the elevator.
*Get the elevator in.	(inseparable expression)

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

In the plane vs. On the plane

IN THE PLANE
Refers to the area within, to the actual space inside.
We were crowded together in the plane.
The luggage travels in a pressurized cabin in the plane.
Aluminum and titanium was used in the plane to reduce its weight. (construction materials)

ON THE PLANE
Refers to boarding or being aboard; or on the surface. (See note above.)
We got on the plane last.
We were on the plane for ten hours.
The Hollywood stunt man stood on the plane while it was flying. (on top of)

By car vs. On foot

VEHICLE
By expresses the means or method of doing something.
I went by car. (plane, ship, bus, train, etc.)

VEHICLE

By expresses the means or method of doing something.

car I went by car.

(plane, ship, bus, train, etc.)

SELF
On in used in the expression "on foot" which means "by walking".
I went on foot.

Between, Among, Amidst

Relative Variations

BETWEEN
Use between with two items. (Use in between for something located at a midpoint on an imaginary line.)
The egg is between the apple and the pear. ("in between" is a location in line) 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)

BETWEEN

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

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

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)

AMONG / AMONGST
Use among with three or more items or with a noncount noun. A variation occurs, amongst, with the final -st against, amidst. (mostly in Br-Eng)
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)

AMONG / AMONGST

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

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
In the middle of specifies a middle placement: in a location, or on a field or plane (a mathematical plane); or to specify being surrounded by things.
MIDDLE PLACEMENT
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.
MID-WAY / MID-POINT / MID-CONSCIOUSNESS
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.

AMID / AMIDST
Amid specifies being among or surrounded by things or people. A variation, amidst, mostly occurs in British English.
SURROUNDED
*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)
SURROUNDED BY NOISE OR CHAOS
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 or awkward 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

Adverb vs. Preposition (traditional grammar)

Relative to a direction vs. relative to a fixed object

Adverb vs. Preposition

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

AN ADVERB 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.

movement in a direction The egg rolled .

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

A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE FOR PLACE
Prepositional phrases are more specific in relating an object to the direction of movement. They tell us where in relation to an object an activity happened.
The egg is sitting the apple.

Some words can be used as a preposition or an adverb. See Adv. & Prep List
fixed (Adj) – non-moving

Relative Placement

in front of	behind / in back of
between (2) / among (3+ )	on / upon / on top of

in / inside / inside of	next to / aside of / beside
under / below	above / over

Function of a Preposition

As subject or complement

Subject or Predicate Complement

SUBJECT
A prepositional phrase may function as the subject of a clause or as a modifier to the subject noun.
SUBJECT	PREDICATE	COMPLEMENT
PP	V	NP
On the door	is	a message.
NOUN *MODIFIER	PREDICATE	COMPLEMENT
N + PP	V	NP
A message on the door	includes	the information.
NOUN *MODIFIER	PREDICATE	COMPLEMENT
N + PP	V	IO + NP
A man at the door	gave³	us a message.

PREDICATE COMPLEMENT
A prepositional phrase may also function as the complement to the predicate or as a modifier to the object noun.
SUBJECT	PREDICATE	COMPLEMENT
NP	V	PP
A message	is hanging¹	on the door.
SUBJECT	PREDICATE	PRED COMPLEMENT
N	V	DO + PP
They	left²	a message on the door.
SUBJECT	PREDICATE	OBJ *MODIFIER
N	V	IO + DO + PP
They	gave³	us a message with a phone number.

¹ intransitive verb— does not require an object as its complement

² transitive verb—takes an object as its complement, DO direct object or IO indirect object

³ditransitive verb—takes an indirect object IO and a direct object DO

Categories: N – noun; NP – noun phrase; V – verb; PP – prepositional phrase

*In linguistic analysis, this prepositional phrase is a complement to the head noun not a modifier. (CaGEL 24)

Also see Prepositional Phrases of Time — subject or complement.

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

Error and Solution

ERROR
We went at home / to home.
We went to downtown.
I went there in car. I went there on my feet.
He placed a sign which said he would be back in ten minutes on the door.

SOLUTION
We went home. (P / Adv) in the direction "homeward" See Prep vs. Adverb. We were at our home. (PP) Prep + locational noun
We went downtown. ("down" is the preposition; "town" is a locational noun) We were downtown.
I went there by car. (See means or method.) I went on foot.
He placed on the door a sign which said he would be back in ten minutes

SOLUTION

We went home. (P / Adv) in the direction "homeward" See Prep vs. Adverb.

We were at our home. (PP) Prep + locational noun

We went downtown. ("down" is the preposition; "town" is a locational noun)

We were downtown.

I went there by car. (See means or method.)

I went on foot.

He placed on the door a sign which said he would be back in ten minutes

*incorrect usage

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Grammar Notes (Advanced)

Traditional and Linguistic Description

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR—AZAR
Traditional grammar describes many of the words above as adverbs because they answer the question "Where?" Traditionally, an adverb, unlike a preposition, does not take an object as its complement. "Adverbs are also used to express time of frequency. Examples: tomorrow, today, yesterday, soon, never, usually, always, yet." "An important element of English sentences is the prepositional phrase. It consists of a preposition (PREP) and its object (O). The object of a preposition is a noun or pronoun." (Azar 440 A-3) Prepositions take objects but adverbs do not. Adverbial particles: He went above, about, across, ahead, along, around, aside, away, back, before, behind, by, down, forward, in , home near, off on, out, over, past, through. "Many words of this kind can be used as both adverb particles and prepositions…" (Swan 20.1) "Adverb particles are often used, rather like adjectives, as complements of the verb be." (Swan 20.3)

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR—AZAR

Traditional grammar describes many of the words above as adverbs because they answer the question "Where?"

Traditionally, an adverb, unlike a preposition, does not take an object as its complement.

"Adverbs are also used to express time of frequency. Examples: tomorrow, today, yesterday, soon, never, usually, always, yet."

"An important element of English sentences is the prepositional phrase. It consists of a preposition (PREP) and its object (O). The object of a preposition is a noun or pronoun." (Azar 440 A-3)

Prepositions take objects but adverbs do not.

Adverbial particles: He went above, about, across, ahead, along, around, aside, away, back, before, behind, by, down, forward, in , home near, off on, out, over, past, through.

"Many words of this kind can be used as both adverb particles and prepositions…" (Swan 20.1)

"Adverb particles are often used, rather like adjectives, as complements of the verb be." (Swan 20.3)

LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION—HUDDLESTON
Current linguistic description includes place adverbs and prepositions for place in the same category: Preposition. "they seem much less related to the verb and more like a preposition. A preposition can occur as a stand alone word or be complemented by a noun (an object) or a gerund." (Huddleston "Prepositions vs adverbs" 7 §2.4) The category Adverb is reserved for modifiers more closely related to the verb (adverbs of manner, degree, frequency, etc.) Adverb: He went slowly (manner) / often (frequency) / too (degree) fast. Complements are more essential elements of the clause, dependents of the verb or verb phrase such an elements that function as the Object or Indirect Object. A prepositional phrase occurs as an adjunct clause; an adverb does not. (Huddleston 8 §4.2) Preposition: He went up / up the stairs / upstairs. He went. Adjuncts are less essential elements of the clause, loosely attached to the verb or verb phrase, such as modifiers and prep phrases. (Huddleston 15 §5) Note that some verbs such as be may take a preposition or prepositional phrase as its complement. He is upstairs. (This is a "complement" not an "adjunct".)

LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION—HUDDLESTON

Current linguistic description includes place adverbs and prepositions for place in the same category: Preposition.

"they seem much less related to the verb and more like a preposition. A preposition can occur as a stand alone word or be complemented by a noun (an object) or a gerund." (Huddleston "Prepositions vs adverbs" 7 §2.4)

The category Adverb is reserved for modifiers more closely related to the verb (adverbs of manner, degree, frequency, etc.)

Adverb: He went slowly (manner) / often (frequency) / too (degree) fast.

Complements are more essential elements of the clause, dependents of the verb or verb phrase such an elements that function as the Object or Indirect Object.

A prepositional phrase occurs as an adjunct clause; an adverb does not. (Huddleston 8 §4.2)

Preposition: He went up / up the stairs / upstairs. He went.

Adjuncts are less essential elements of the clause, loosely attached to the verb or verb phrase, such as modifiers and prep phrases. (Huddleston 15 §5)

Note that some verbs such as be may take a preposition or prepositional phrase as its complement. He is upstairs. (This is a "complement" not an "adjunct".)

Works Cited

Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use. 5th ed., Cambridge UP. 2019.
Swan, Michael."adverb particles." Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.

Practice1

Home

Complete the sentence.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 1-20" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.

My home town California is a wonderful place to live.

Feedback 1

I live a suburb not far from a busy city

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My house is 125 Marin Court.

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We are the end of the street.

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The neighborhood is not far from the small business area First Street.

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Our little city, is located a peninsula.

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The peninsula borders San Francisco Bay.

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From my window, I can see little boats sailing the bay.

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Occasionally, I can see whales the bay.

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10.

I can also see cars the freeway heading to and from the city.

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11.

To the north, I can see airplanes getting ready to take-off the runway.

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12.

By now you have guessed that my home is a hill.

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13.

While sitting my couch, I can through my window and see a spectacular view.

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14.

In the evening, all the kids our neighborhood play ball on the street.

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15.

Some play basketball a court marked by chalk.

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16.

Others play ping-pong (table tennis) a neighbor's garage.

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17.

They play an old table that's been there for years.

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18.

Everyone feels " home" when visiting each other's houses.

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19.

Many of the kids hope to grow up and buy a home an area like this.

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20.

They like living a community like this as well.

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Practice 2

A Rabbit and Its Hole

Complete the sentence.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 21-40" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.

21.

A rabbit tends to make its home a creek. (creek (N) – small river)

Feedback 21

22.

It digs a home the side of a hill.

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23.

If the rabbit digs the hole thick brush or trees, it will be safer.

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24.

To see other approaching animals, the rabbit stands the hill.

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25.

To find food, the rabbit hops the grassy sides of the hill.

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26.

Sometimes, it has to go the creek to find food on the other side.

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27.

A rabbit likes to make its hole other rabbit holes.

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28.

Rabbits have more protection when living a colony.

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29.

If there are too many rabbits in one area, some have to move the hill.

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30.

Rabbits are herbivores and eat grass that grows the hill.

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31.

You probably won't notice any rabbits if you stand a hill.

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32.

However, if you get closer you will see rabbit holes the rocks and bushes.

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33.

A rabbit won't come its hole until it has smelled the air for predators.

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34.

Rabbits can dig several feet a hill to make a cozy home.

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35.

In "Alice in Wonderland", Alice falls a rabbit hole.

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36.

In the story, she is a tree and is listening to a story that her sister is reading.

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37.

Then, she sees a rabbit and follows it a hole to a world of "nonsense".

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38.

In real life, rabbit holes are just tunnels with a little grass nests the back of the holes.

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39.

Rabbits prefer their own "rooms", so there are no connecting tunnels holes.

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40.

Rabbits thrive in the wild until developers decide to build their habitat.

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