Prepositions of Place (in/on/at) Exercises +pdfs
Practise the free exercises below to understand when we use prepositions of place using ‘in’ ‘on’ ‘at’. There is also an included printable pdf worksheet which you can download for free.
Exercise 1: 🏫 Using ‘in’ ‘on’ ‘at’ prepositions for enclosed spaces, flat surfaces, and general and specific locations.
Exercise 2: 👥 Conversation exercises using ‘in’ ‘on’ ‘at’.
Exercise 3: 🚗 These exercises focus on addresses, and different ways we use these prepositions for transport.
Exercise 1
Click to see the answers and explanations.
1 . Why do you put so much salt ___ your pie?
✅ on
ℹ️ The top of the pie is a flat surface, so we use ‘on’.
2. I think there is too much salt ___ this pie…
✅ in
ℹ️ The inside of the pie is an enclosed space, so we use ‘in’.
3. A) Where have you put my hat and gloves?
B) They are ___ your bag.
✅ in
ℹ️ We use ‘in’ because the bag is an enclosed space.
4. Can you rub some sun cream ___ my back?
✅ on
ℹ️ A person’s back is a flat surface, so we use ‘on’.
5. Do you want to meet me ___ the library this afternoon?
(general sense)
✅ at
ℹ️ We use ‘at’ to describe places in a general sense.
We could also say ‘✅ ‘in the library’, but the speaker’s emphasis is on being inside the building and in an enclosed space.
6. Do you ever ride your motorbike ___ the motorway?
✅ on
ℹ️ The motorway (or ‘expressway’ in American English) is a flat surface, so we use ‘on’.
7. A) Have my clothes finished?
B) No, they are still ____ the washing machine.
✅ in
ℹ️ Washing machines are enclosed spaces.
8. Please put your cup ___ the table.
✅ on
ℹ️ The table is a flat surface.
9. Rose: Where are my keys?
Steven: They are ___ the cupboard.
✅ in
ℹ️ The cupboard is an enclosed space.
10. Can you put this ___ the microwave?
✅ in
ℹ️ The microwave is an enclosed space.
11. Where is he? Is he ___ university?
(general sense)
✅ at
ℹ️ In this example, ‘university’ is used as a general location.
12. Where is she? She is ____ the university computer room.
✅ in
ℹ️ The computer room is an enclosed space.
13. The dog is ___ the river.
✅ in
ℹ️ We say ‘in’ the river because the river is like an enclosed space for the dog.
14. The wood is floating ___ the river.
✅ on
ℹ️ The river is like a flat surface for the wood.
15. Mary and John stayed ___ Seoul when they were ___ South Korea.
✅ in/in
ℹ️ The city and country act as enclosed spaces.
16. DJ: We need more people ___ the dancefloor.
✅ on
ℹ️ The dancefloor is a flat surface.
17. When I travel, I like to keep my phone ___ my pocket all the time.
✅ in
ℹ️ A pocket is an enclosed space.
18. They are ___ the shopping mall.
(general sense)
✅ at
ℹ️ We use ‘at’ for places in a general sense.
19. They are in the cafe ___ the shopping mall.
(you want to emphasise indoors)
✅ in
ℹ️ They are indoors in an enclosed space. You could use ‘at the shopping mall’ if your meaning was more general.
20. Can you put these dishes ___ the table.
✅ on
ℹ️ The table is a flat surface.
21. We are both ___ the car and we will be at your house in 30 minutes.
✅ in
ℹ️ The car is an enclosed space.
22. I’m ____ the bathroom. Please wait!
✅ in
ℹ️ The bathroom is an enclosed space.
23. The book is ___ the dining table.
✅ on
ℹ️ The dining table is a flat surface.
24. Paul: Please come and collect me. I am ___ the bus station. (General sense)
✅ at
ℹ️ Paul uses ‘at’ because he means the general sense of the bus station.
25. Paul: Please come and get me. I am waiting ___ the bus station. (He is inside the bus station)
✅ in
ℹ️ Paul is in the bus station (enclosed space).
26. We live ___ London.
✅ in
ℹ️ Cities, towns, and villages act like enclosed space, so we use ‘in’.
Exercise 2 👥
In these conversation exercises, you have to fill-in-the-blanks using ‘in’ ‘on’ ‘at’.
Exercise 3
These additional meanings for ‘in’ ‘on’ and ‘at’ prepositions focus on addresses and transportation.
1. Heidi: Where do you live?
Gemma: I live ___ Baker Street.
✅ on
ℹ️ We use ‘on’ for lines like streets and roads.
2 . Heidi: Which number?
Gemma: I live ___ number 52.
✅ at
ℹ️ We use ‘at’ with specific address numbers and names.
3. Mike: I have a great apartment. It’s ____ the River Seine in Paris.
✅ on
ℹ️ Rivers are also lines, so we use ‘on’.
4. He lives ____ the border of Mexico and the USA.
✅ on
ℹ️ Borders are also lines, so we use ‘on’.
5. Sara: Where are my socks?
Sara’s Mum: I put them ___ the back of the cupboard.
✅ at
ℹ️ We use ‘at’ to also describe very specific places.
However, if Sara’s mum didn’t want to be specific she could say✅ ‘they are in the cupboard.
6. John: Where is the hoover?
Jill: It’s ___ the top of the stairs.
✅ at
ℹ️ This is a specific place, so we use ‘at’.
7. Jill: Where is the cat?
John: It’s ___ the stairs.
✅ on
ℹ️ The stairs (where the cat is sitting) is a flat surface, so we use ‘on’.
8. Later
John: Where is the cat?
Jill: It’s ____ the bottom of the stairs.
✅ at
ℹ️ This is a very specific place, so we use ‘at’.
9. The chair is ___ the back of the room.
✅ at
ℹ️ The chair is in a very specific place.
10. There are many chairs ___ the room.
✅ in
ℹ️ The room is an enclosed space.
11. The chair is ____ the table.
✅ on
ℹ️ The chair is on a flat surface.
12. He is waiting ___ the front gate.
✅ at
ℹ️ The front gate is a very specific location.
13. I live ___ Victoria Street.
✅ on
ℹ️ For lines (streets/roads) we use ‘on’.
14. I live ___ number 75.
✅ at
ℹ️ For exact numbers and names we use ‘at’ with addresses.
15. They are travelling ___ a plane to Thailand and then they go hiking for 2 weeks.
✅ on
ℹ️ A plane is large and you can walk around in it, so we use ‘on’.
16. “We are ___ the taxi and we will be at your house very soon!”
✅ in
ℹ️ For smaller vehicles that have restricted space, we use ‘in’.
17. They are travelling ___ a cruise ship for 4 weeks.
✅ on
ℹ️ Cruise ships are large ships that you can easily walk around on.
18. He is ___ his little boat having fun.
✅ in
ℹ️ His boat is small and you cannot move around so easily, so we use ‘in’.
19. They are ___ the train and will be here shortly.
✅ on
ℹ️ Trains are large and you can walk around on them, so we use ‘on’.
20. She driving ___ her new sports car.
✅ in
ℹ️ A car is a smaller vehicle that you cannot easily move around in.
21. We are ____ the bus now and we will be there in approximately 3 hours.
✅ on
ℹ️ Buses are large and you can walk around in them.
22. He is riding ___ his motorbike to see his friends.
✅ on
ℹ️ With vehicles that you do not enter by a door and have to sit on, we use ‘on’.
23. She is ____ her bicycle riding in the park.
✅ on
ℹ️ You do not have to enter the bicycle by a door and you have to sit on it, so we use ‘on’.
24. He is going to work ___ his scooter.
✅ on
ℹ️ We use ‘on’ because you have to stand on a scooter, and you do not need to enter by a door.
25. He is travelling to London ___ a coach.
✅ on
ℹ️ A coach is a large vehicle, and it is possible to walk around.
26. Mike goes to college ___ his skateboard.
✅ on
ℹ️ A skateboard is something you stand on. Therefore, we use ‘on’.
