Preposition of Place: Definition, Examples & Rules | English Grammar

Last Updated: 01 Jul, 2025

Welcome! In this lesson, you'll learn all about Prepositions of Place and Direction in English grammar. We'll cover what they are, provide examples, and show you how to use them correctly. You'll find real-life examples, a quick quiz, and pro tips to help you master this essential grammar topic.

What are Prepositions of Place and Direction?

Preposition of Place Definition: A preposition of place shows where something is located or positioned. Common prepositions of place include in, on, at, under, over, between, among, behind, and in front of.

Preposition of Direction Definition: A preposition of direction shows movement from one place to another. Examples include to, from, into, onto, through, across, up, down, and toward.

Function in Grammar

Prepositions of place and direction show spatial relationships and movement:

Place: The book is on the table. (location)
Direction: She walked to the store. (movement)
Position: The cat is under the bed. (spatial relationship)

Place vs Direction Prepositions

Place (Where)	Direction (Where to)
in the house	into the house
on the table	onto the table
at school	to school
behind the car	toward the car

Place shows location, direction shows movement.

💡 Tip: Use IN for enclosed spaces, ON for surfaces, AT for specific points!

📌 Place and Direction Challenge!

Can you spot the prepositions of place and direction?

The book is on the table.
She walked to the store.
The cat is under the bed.

Show Answers

on (place)
to (direction)
under (place)

Examples in Sentences

Prepositions of Place:

The book is on the table.
She lives in New York.
Meet me at the park.
The cat is under the bed.
The plane flew over the city.

Prepositions of Direction:

She walked to the store.
He came from school.
The ball rolled into the hole.
Jump onto the platform.
Drive through the tunnel.

Common Prepositions of Place

in - enclosed spaces (in the room)
on - surfaces (on the table)
at - specific points (at home)
under - below (under the bridge)
over - above (over the hill)
between - in the middle of two (between the houses)
among - surrounded by many (among the trees)
behind - at the back of (behind the car)
in front of - before (in front of the building)
next to - beside (next to the bank)

Common Prepositions of Direction

to - toward a destination (to school)
from - starting point (from home)
into - entering (into the building)
onto - moving to a surface (onto the stage)
through - passing within (through the park)
across - from one side to other (across the street)
up - higher direction (up the stairs)
down - lower direction (down the hill)
toward/towards - in the direction of (toward the exit)
around - circular movement (around the corner)

IN, ON, AT Usage Guide

Preposition	Used For	Examples
IN	Enclosed spaces	in the room, in the car
ON	Surfaces	on the table, on the wall
AT	Specific points	at home, at the corner

Each preposition has specific rules for different spatial relationships.

Special Rules and Notes

IN vs INTO: IN shows location, INTO shows movement into a space.
ON vs ONTO: ON shows position, ONTO shows movement to a surface.
AT vs TO: AT shows location, TO shows direction or destination.
BETWEEN vs AMONG: BETWEEN for two items, AMONG for more than two.
Compound Prepositions: Some prepositions have multiple words (in front of, next to).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Wrong Preposition: Don't say "in the wall" - say "on the wall."
Confusing Place/Direction: Use "in" for location, "into" for movement.
Literal Translation: Don't translate directly from your native language.
Unnecessary Prepositions: Some verbs don't need prepositions in English.

Quick Quiz: Choose the Correct Preposition!

Which preposition fits best in these sentences?

The book is ___ the table.
She walked ___ the store.
The cat is ___ the bed.
He jumped ___ the pool.
The picture hangs ___ the wall.

Answers: on, to, under, into, on

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Place or Direction?

Identify if these show place or direction:

The book is on the shelf.
She walked into the room.
He lives at 123 Main Street.
The ball rolled down the hill.
The cat sleeps under the table.

Show Answers

Place
Direction
Place
Direction
Place

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete with appropriate prepositions:

The pen is ___ the desk.
She drove ___ the tunnel.
The dog ran ___ the park.
The picture is ___ the wall.
He walked ___ the stairs.

Show Answers

on
through
to/into
on
up

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a preposition of place?

A preposition of place shows where something is located or positioned. Common prepositions of place include in, on, at, under, over, between, among, behind, and in front of.

What is a preposition of direction?

A preposition of direction shows movement from one place to another. Examples include to, from, into, onto, through, across, up, down, and toward.

When do you use IN, ON, and AT for place?

Use IN for enclosed spaces (in the room), ON for surfaces (on the table), and AT for specific points (at home, at the corner).

What is the difference between IN and INTO?

IN shows location or position (The book is in the bag), while INTO shows movement or direction entering a space (She walked into the room).

What is the difference between ON and ONTO?

ON shows position on a surface (The book is on the table), while ONTO shows movement to a surface (He jumped onto the stage).

When do you use BETWEEN and AMONG?

Use BETWEEN for two items (between the houses) and AMONG for more than two items (among the trees, among the students).

Can you give examples of prepositions of place and direction?

Place: The book is on the table. She lives in New York. Direction: She walked to the store. He came from school. The ball rolled into the hole.

What are common mistakes with place prepositions?

Common mistakes include using wrong prepositions (saying "in the wall" instead of "on the wall"), confusing place and direction prepositions, and literal translation from native languages.

Conclusion

Prepositions of place and direction help us describe locations and movement. Remember: IN for enclosed spaces, ON for surfaces, AT for specific points!