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Distinguishing the use of prepositions indicating place in English - In, On, At, In Front of, Behind
1. Preposition At
* At: at, in.
- Indicates a specific location, place of work, or study: at home, at station/ airport/ office
For example: I'm waiting at the bus stop.
- Describing a single location: at the summit/ at the base (of a mountain...), at the forefront/ at the rear (of a group...), at the outset/ at the conclusion (of a story...).
For example: Sign your name at the document's top.
- Referring to a house number, office, shop, or someone's address: at the dentist's office, at Hoa's residence, at 83 To Huu Street.
For instance: I'm employed at 83 To Huu Street.
- Referring to places of work or study: at work/ school/ college/ university.
For example: Mai attends Hanoi University.
- Referring to events or gatherings: at the party, at the meeting, at the concert, at the match, at the lecture.
For example: I attended the concert last night when you phoned.
2. Preposition In
* In: inside, within.
- Referring to a location within an area, a space such as the universe, a city, a country: in the room/ building/ restaurant/ village/ city/ country...
For instance: I reside in a tranquil village.
- Referring to bodies of water such as the ocean, lake, river: in the ocean/ in the lake/ in the river...
For example: Hoa is swimming in the pool.
- Referring to positions in lines, queues, rows: in a line/ queue/ row.
For example: They are lined up, waiting for their turn.
- Used before the names of villages, towns, cities, countries...: in Vietnam, in Korea, in Hanoi...
For instance: During your trip to Vietnam, consider spending a few days in Hanoi.
- Used with vehicles such as cars or taxis: in a car/ in a taxi.
For instance: Dung arrived by taxi.
- Used without an article (a/an/the) to indicate that someone is in a particular place: in bed/ in hospital/ in church.
For example: Our children are currently in bed.
- Referring to direction or certain phrases indicating a hiding place: in the south/ east/ west/ north, in the middle of, in the back/ in the front of something.
For example: Ho Chi Minh City lies in the southern part of Vietnam.
3. Preposition On
* On: situated upon or in an elevated position.
- Referring to a position on a surface: on the table/ carpet/ wall/ ceiling/ screen/ door/ map...
For instance: There's a smudge on the wall.
- Referring to a hiding place or floor number (of a building): on the platform/ railway/ island/ farm/ beach, on the ground, on the 1st/ 2nd/ 3rd floor.
For example: I work on the 23rd floor of this building.
- Before street names: on the street, on To Huu Street, on this road...
For example: I've been living on this street for 20 years.
- Used with public or personal transportation (except car and taxi): on a bus/ train/ plane/ ship/ motorbike/ bicycle/ horse.
For instance: Nam rode past me on his motorbike.
- Used in certain phrases indicating position: on the left/ right, on the front/ back (of a letter...), on sb's left/ right.
For example: There's a coffee shop on the left side of the bookstore.
4. Preposition In front of
* In front of: ahead, before
- In front of is used to indicate the position of one object in front of and outside another object.
For example: I'm standing in front of your home.
Last night at the cinema, a very tall man sat in front of me and blocked my view of the screen.
5. Preposition Behind
* Behind: at the back of, to the rear of
- Behind is used to indicate the position of one object at the rear of another object (opposite of In front of).
For example: The dog is positioned behind the table.
Or My TV remote control fell behind the sofa.
6. Practice Exercise
After learning about the use of prepositions indicating location, including in, on, at, in front of, behind, let's review with the preposition practice exercise below:
1. The performers were waiting..... the curtain.
2. Write your name..... the top of the page.
3. I like that picture hanging..... the wall..... the kitchen.
4. There was an accident..... the crossroads this morning.
5. My brother lives..... a small village..... the south-west of Vietnam.
6. My office is..... the first floor.
7. They sat..... the TV and watched a movie last night.
8. ..... the end of the street, there is a path leading to the river.
9. I didn't see you..... the party last night. Where were you?
10. Paul lives..... London. He's a student..... London University.
11. You will find the sports results..... the back page of the newspaper.
12. The sun disappeared..... the clouds.
Answers: 1 - behind. 2 - at. 3 - on - in. 4 - at. 5 - in - in. 6 - on. 7 - in front of. 8 - at. 9 - at. 10 - in - at. 11 - on. 12 - behind.
Above are instructions on how to use the prepositions In, At, On, Behind, and In Front in English. You can also refer to How to use different types of Prepositions in English for more types of prepositions!
