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Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place are words that help us talk about where things are in relation to other things.

A1Prepositions

What is it

Prepositions of place are words that help us talk about where things are in relation to other things.

Here are some common prepositions of place:

  • in is used to talk about something that is inside something else.
  • on is used to talk about something that is on top of something else.
  • under is used to talk about something that is below something else.
  • above is used to talk about something that is higher than something else.
  • next to is used to talk about something that is beside something else.
  • between is used to talk about something that is between two things.

When to use it

We use prepositions of place to describe where something is in relation to other things.

  • We use prepositions of place to give directions to a place.
  • We use prepositions of place to describe the location of objects in a picture or diagram.
  • We use prepositions of place to talk about the location of events or activities.

Examples

  • The book is on the table.
  • The car is under the bridge.
  • The picture is above the sofa.
  • The hotel is next to the beach.
  • The park is between the two streets.
  • The bike is in the garage.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: The book is in the table.. Correct: The book is on the table..
  • Wrong: The car is on the bridge.. Correct: The car is under the bridge..
  • Wrong: The picture is under the sofa.. Correct: The picture is above the sofa..

Tip

A good way to remember prepositions of place is to think about where you are in relation to other things, and use the preposition that describes that relationship.

Quick check
Where is the book?

Where this matters in your exam

In IELTS, prepositions of place are important for describing graphs and diagrams in Writing Task 1, and for giving directions in Speaking Part 2. Correct use of prepositions can also help you get a higher score in Reading and Listening comprehension.

  • Writing Task 1

    Use prepositions of place to describe the location of objects in a graph or diagram.

  • Speaking Part 2

    Use prepositions of place to give directions to a place.