Prepositions of Place Exercises
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Prepositions of place
A preposition of place tells us where someone or something is. Look at the position and choose the word that fits.
- In:
- Inside a space: The keys are in the drawer.
- On:
- Touching a surface: The cup is on the table.
- Under and above:
- Under is lower; above is higher.
- Between and beside:
- Between is in the middle of two things; next to is beside one thing.
Examples
The keys are in the box.
In means inside.
The cup is on the table.
On means touching the surface.
The shoes are under the bed.
Under means in a lower position.
The bike is next to the car.
Next to means beside.
The ball is between two chairs.
Between means in the middle of two things.
Practice exercises
Choose the correct answer
Select the option that completes the sentence.
1.The keys are ___ the drawer. Open it to get them.
2.The lamp hangs ___ the dining table without touching it.
3.The bike is parked ___ the car; they are side by side.
4.The poster is fixed ___ the wall with tape.
5.The garden is ___ the house, at the back rather than at the front.
Fill the gaps
Type the missing word or words.
Put the words in order
Click the parts in the correct order.
11. Build the sentence:
12. Build the sentence:
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
Right or wrong?
Decide whether each sentence is correct.
15.The ball is under the bed, so it is below the bed.
16.The picture is attached to the wall. It is in the wall.
17.The chair is in front of the desk. The desk is behind the chair.
18.The phone is next to the laptop; they are side by side.
Where is it? Using prepositions of place
Prepositions of place connect an object with its location. In describes an interior, while on usually describes contact with a surface. Compare the keys in a drawer with a cup on a table.
Other words show relative position. A lamp can be above a table, shoes can be under a bed, and a bike can be next to a car. Between places one thing in the space separating two others.
Read the clues in each sentence before answering. Details such as touching a surface or standing at the back tell you which preposition fits best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between in and on?
In means inside a space; on usually means touching a surface.
What does between mean?
Between means in the space separating two things.
Is below the same as under?
Both can mean in a lower position; under often suggests a more direct position beneath something.
Answer key
1. The keys are ___ the drawer. Open it to get them.
Answer: in
Use in when something is inside an enclosed space such as a drawer.
2. The lamp hangs ___ the dining table without touching it.
Answer: above
Above means at a higher level, without the contact expressed by on.
3. The bike is parked ___ the car; they are side by side.
Answer: next to
Next to means immediately beside something.
4. The poster is fixed ___ the wall with tape.
Answer: on
A poster attached to a wall is on its surface.
5. The garden is ___ the house, at the back rather than at the front.
Answer: behind
Behind means at the back of something.
6. The cup is ___ the table, resting on top of it. (one word)
Answer: on
Use on for contact with a surface: on the table.
7. The shoes are ___ the bed, directly beneath it. (one word)
Answer: under
Under, beneath or below places the shoes lower than the bed.
8. The ball is ___ the two boxes, with one box on each side. (one word)
Answer: between
Between places something in the space separating two things.
9. The teacher stands ___ the class, facing the students. (three words)
Answer: in front of
In front of means on the side that faces the students.
10. The bird is flying ___ the trees, at a higher level. (one word)
Answer: above
Above or over can describe a bird at a higher level than the trees.
11. in the box. / The keys / are
Answer: The keys are in the box.
In marks a position inside the box.
12. is on / The cup / the table.
Answer: The cup is on the table.
On marks contact with the table.
13. is under / the bed. / The cat
Answer: The cat is under the bed.
Under marks a lower position.
14. the two chairs. / The bag / is between
Answer: The bag is between the two chairs.
Between marks the space separating two chairs.
15. The ball is under the bed, so it is below the bed.
Answer: True
Under means in a lower position than something, often directly beneath it.
16. The picture is attached to the wall. It is in the wall.
Answer: False
Use on for a picture attached to the surface of a wall. Correct: The picture is on the wall.
17. The chair is in front of the desk. The desk is behind the chair.
Answer: True
In front of and behind describe opposite sides of the same position.
18. The phone is next to the laptop; they are side by side.
Answer: True
Next to describes two things beside each other.