FREE TRIAL

Prepositions of Place in English: AT, IN, ON

10,000+ pros coached•since 2007•4.9/5 rating•experienced native teachers•free trial, no credit card

Prepositions of place are the small words, like at, in and on, that tell you where something is. “The keys are on the table” and “the keys are in the drawer” point to very different spots.

This guide is for A1 to B1 learners. It covers the three main prepositions of place, exactly when to use each, the tricky cases with transport, and the mistakes learners make most. Three exercises let you practise straight away.

On this page

A quick video summary

What are prepositions of place?

A preposition of place gives more information about the location of a person or thing: “The puppy at the park is happy.”

The same three words, at, in and on, are also prepositions of time. Here they answer the question where?

When to use AT, IN and ON

Think of it this way: in means inside or enclosed, on means touching a surface or line, and at points to a specific place or point.

PrepositionUsed forExamples
inEnclosed spaces, countries, cities and rooms.in France, in a park, in the kitchen, in a car
onFlat surfaces, lines, and public transport you walk inside.on the wall, on the coast, on a bus, on TV
atSpecific places, events and points.at the supermarket, at a concert, at the corner
Transport is the classic trap: you are in a car or taxi (small, you cannot walk inside) but on a bus, train or plane (large, you can walk inside).

These three words hide a lot of small rules. Book a free trial lesson and practise them with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.

Book my free trial

Common mistakes with prepositions of place

  1. Mixing up transport. It is in a car but on a bus, train or plane. “I’m on the train.”
  2. Using in for a surface. Something resting on a surface takes on: “the book is on the table”, not “in the table”.
  3. Using at for a country. Countries and cities take in: “in France”, “in London”, not “at France”.
  4. Confusing at and in for buildings. Use at for the place as a point (“at the office”) and in when you mean inside it (“in the office, on the third floor”).

Practice exercises

Try this exercise and check your results straight away.

Quick self-check

Complete or fix each sentence, then reveal the answers.

1. The cat is ___ the box.
2. I’m ___ the bus right now.
3. She lives ___ Italy.

Show answers

1. in.   2. on.   3. in.

How did that go? Getting the preposition right in an exercise is a start; saying it without thinking is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will help you get there.

Try a free trial lesson

Frequently asked questions

When do you use at, in and on for place?
Use in for enclosed spaces, countries and rooms (in a box, in France), on for surfaces and lines (on the table, on the coast), and at for specific places and points (at the corner, at the station).
Is it in a car or on a car?
It is in a car. You use in for small vehicles you cannot walk inside (car, taxi) and on for large ones you can (bus, train, plane).
Do you say at home or in home?
Say at home. “At home” is a fixed expression; “in my house” is also correct when you mean physically inside the building.
Is it at school or in school?
Both exist. “At school” usually means attending or present as an activity; “in the school” means physically inside the building.
What is the difference between on and in?
On means touching a surface or line (on the wall, on the road). In means inside an enclosed space (in the room, in the box).

Key takeaways

  • Use in for enclosed spaces, countries and rooms (in a park, in France).
  • Use on for surfaces and lines (on the wall, on the coast).
  • Use at for specific places and points (at the corner, at the station).
  • You are in a car but on a bus, train or plane.
  • Countries and cities always take in, never at.

Keep learning

Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.