Prepositions of location
at (point) on (surface) in ( space with limits)
address street country, state, city
John lives at number 12, (on) 1st Avenue, in Reno (in Nevada) (in the USA)
Corner
I'm meeting Sarah at the corner.
The bank is on the corner of the street.
The broom is in the corner of the kitchen.
near / by / next to / beside / opposite
near, by:
We live near the bank
The cat is sleeping by the fireplace.
next to :
We live next to the bank.
beside (= next to)
beside: very close to the side of someone or something:
The dog sat beside Suzan.
opposite = across (from)
Our daughter was sitting opposite us (across from us) on the train.
The park is opposite the school. (Opposite is never used with 'of')
below / under / above / over
Below (non touching)
The fish swims below the surface of the water.
under:
The baby is under the blanket.
above: (non touching)
There are clouds above the town.
over:
She is wearing a shawl over her shoulders.
between / among
Between between 2 things or people
A young child between his parents.
Among among is used with several things or people
Can you see this house hidden among the trees? (there are more than two trees)
inside / outside
inside
'inside' or 'in' My keys are inside (in) my bag. Tom is inside (in) the house.
'inside' is used for a closed space.
An eagle flies high in the sky. (not inside)
outside
outside is the opposite of inside
Location
Two things can be next to each other. (For example, A is next to B in the alphabet.)
One thing can be between (or in between) two other things. (For example, B is between A and C in
the alphabet.)
One thing can be near another. For example, London is near Oxford.
The opposite of near is far from. For example, Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is far from
London.
One thing can be opposite another thing. If you are sitting face to face with another person, then
you are sitting opposite that person.
If you are in a queue, someone can be behind you (so you are before that person) and someone
can be in front of you (so you are behind that person).
One thing can be on another thing. For example, my computer is on my desk.
One thing can be under another thing. For example, I have a mousepad under my mouse.
Below means a lower level. In a group of four football teams (team A, team B, team C and team
d), team C are below team B.
Above means on a higher level. Team A are above Team B, and team B is above team C.
On top of means that something is physically located above another thing.
For example, there is a pile of things on my desk. First, there is a newspaper. On top of the
newspaper there is a book. On top of the book is a cup of coffee.
At the top means that something is located at the highest point. "We're pleased that she is at the
top of her class for English."
At the bottom means that something is located at the lowest point. "We're not pleased that she is
at the bottom of her class for Maths."
Direction
Across means on the other side. "I live at n° 1, London Road. Across from me (on the other side of
the road) is n° 2, London Road."
"Go across the road." (=cross the road)
Walk along the river. (follow the river)
Walk by the river. (walk near the river)
Walk beside the river. (walk next to the river)
Go up the stairs.
Go down the stairs.
(You can also walk up or down a road or street.)
Go through the tunnel. (You go in one side, then you come out on the other side.)
Go straight on (at a crossroads or a roundabout).
Go round the corner.
Walk around a town. (Walk in a circle, or in a random pattern.)
Go past something – walk past something so that it then is behind you.
Go over something – go over / cross the railway line.
