Skip to content
Pick TwoActivity

Prepositions of place: explanation and exercises

A1Updated 2026-09-216 exercises

Prepositions of place say where something is. The small words in, on and at cause the most trouble, because other languages divide space differently. Position words such as next to, between, behind and opposite are easier to teach with a picture or a real classroom object.

How it is formed

Position

in, on, under, next to, between, behind, in front of, opposite, near

In / on / at

in a town, in a room, in a box

on a street, on a wall, on the corner

at the bus stop, at school, at the door

When to use it

  • Describing where things are in a room or on a map.
  • Giving simple directions.
  • Describing pictures and photos.

Common mistakes

  • Not thisThe bakery is in Mill Street.

    Say thisThe bakery is on Mill Street.

    Use on with the name of a street.

  • Not thisShe is in the bus stop.

    Say thisShe is at the bus stop.

    Use at for a point or a place seen as a stop on a journey.

  • Not thisThe bank is between the bakery.

    Say thisThe bank is between the bakery and the library.

    Between needs two things.

Tips for teaching it

  • Use real objects first: put a pencil in, on, under and behind a bag before touching the book.
  • Work from a map of a familiar street. It gives you natural practice with next to, opposite and on the corner.
  • Teach in / on / at as a funnel: in for enclosed areas, on for surfaces and lines, at for points.

Practice: prepositions of place exercises

Try these exercises. Answers are checked in your browser and never sent to us. Teachers can share this page with a class as it is.

1Complete the sentence.

The keys arethe drawer.

2Complete the sentence.

The picture isthe wall.

3Complete the sentence.

The bank isthe bakery and the library.

4Complete the sentence.

The school isthe park. They face each other.

We live ___ Mill Street.

The shop is ___ the corner of Elm Street.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between in front of and opposite?

In front of means before something, on the same side. Opposite means on the other side, facing it: the bank is opposite the bakery.

When do we say at instead of in?

Use at for a specific point (at the door, at the bus stop, at 5 o’clock) and in for an enclosed area (in the kitchen, in Chicago).