Prepositions of Place: In, On, At

01In: inside a space

Use in when something is inside walls or borders: in the kitchen, in my bag, in the box, in the living room. Use in for cities, states and countries too: in Seattle, in Texas, in Mexico.

Small vehicles where you sit and can't stand up take in: in the car, in a taxi. We also say in a photo and in a book.

• My keys are in my backpack.
• She grew up in Ohio.
• Wait in the car. I'll be right back.
• Who's the guy in this photo?

02On: surfaces, streets, floors and big vehicles

Use on for a surface: on the table, on the wall, on the floor, on the screen. Americans use on for street names: on Main Street, on Fifth Avenue. Use on for the floors of a building: on the third floor.

Big vehicles that you can walk around in take on: on the bus, on the train, on the plane, on the subway.

• There's a calendar on the fridge.
• The bank is on Elm Street.
• My office is on the fourth floor.
• I usually read on the train.

03At: a point or a place for an activity

Use at for an exact point: at the door, at the bus stop, at the front desk, at the top of the stairs. Use at with a full address with a number: at 250 Oak Street.

Use at for places where people do a usual activity: at work, at home, at school, at the gym, at a party, at the airport, at the dentist.

• Someone is at the door.
• We live at 1840 Cedar Road.
• Sorry, I'm still at work.
• I saw your brother at the gym.

04American English: street names and the hospital

A street name alone takes on, but a number + street takes at: on Pine Street, at 12 Pine Street.

Americans say in the hospital for a patient who stays there. British English leaves out the. Use at the hospital for a visit or a job there: My sister works at the hospital.

• The coffee shop is on Pine Street.
• The coffee shop is at 12 Pine Street.
• My grandpa is in the hospital after his surgery.
• I visited him at the hospital yesterday.

05Common mistakes