Prepositions of place

Rules

• Rule 1: in

  Use in when something is inside a box, a room, a garden or water.

  Pattern: in + the + place

  Example: The juice is in the fridge.

  Example: My brother is in his room.

• Rule 2: on and under

  Use on when something touches a surface (a table, a wall, the floor). Use under when it is below something.

  Pattern: on the table · under the table

  Example: The clock is on the wall.

  Example: My slippers are under the bed.

• Rule 3: next to, behind, in front of

  Remember the small words: next to, in front of. But behind stands alone (no “behind of”).

  Pattern: next to · behind · in front of

  Example: The trash can is next to the door.

  Example: The dog is hiding behind the sofa.

• Rule 4: between

  Use between … and … when something is in the middle of two things.

  Pattern: between A and B

  Example: The park is between the school and the library.

  Example: Thursday is between Wednesday and Friday.

Common mistakes

• My house is next the park. → My house is next to the park.

  Say next to.

• He is in front the TV. → He is in front of the TV.

  Don't forget of.

• The cat is behind of the door. → The cat is behind the door.

  No of after behind.