Prepositions of Place (at, on, in)

These words tell us where people and things are. Put at, on or in before a place.

in: inside something. Example: The cat is in the box.
on: touching the top or side of something. Example: The book is on the table.
at: next to a place, or there to do something. Example: She is at the door.

These words do not change. Use them before a noun: in the kitchen.

Ask yourself three questions.

Is it inside something? Use in. The dog is in the garden.
Is it touching a surface, a street or a floor? Use on. The keys are on the shelf.
Is it at a place, or there to do something? Use at. He is at the bus stop.

Rooms and buildings (inside): The pizza is in the kitchen.
Cities and countries: My friend lives in Spain.
Surfaces, streets and floors: My shoes are on the floor. The shop is on Main Street.
A level in a building: My room is on the second floor.
A street with a house number: She lives at 10 King Street. With no number, we say She lives on King Street.
A place we go to: I am at the station.
Home, work and school: He is at work. We do not say the here. At school means as a student, to study.
Sometimes both words are possible: We are in the park means inside the park. We are at the park means we are there, at a place we go to.

I am in home. - correct: I am at home. We say at with home, work and school.
She lives at London. - correct: She lives in London. Use in for cities and countries.
The book is in the table. - correct: The book is on the table. Use on for a surface.
She lives on 10 King Street. - correct: She lives at 10 King Street. Use at with a house number.

The three words show different pictures:

We also use at for time: at 5 o'clock.

Use at, on and in to say where something or someone is.

Practice this rule