Basic Prepositions of Place
Quick Answer
A preposition of place is a small word that says where something is. The six most useful ones for beginners are in, on, under, next to, between, and behind.
Click any one below to open a short lesson with examples, common mistakes, and a quiz.
What Is a Preposition of Place?
A preposition of place is a tiny word that answers one big question: where?
- The keys are in my bag.
- The cup is on the table.
- The cat is under the chair.
One short word — a clear picture of where something is. That is the magic of prepositions.
The Six Beginner Prepositions
Each of these has its own short lesson. Pick one, learn it, take the quiz, then come back for the next.
| Word | Means | Example | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | inside something | The book is in the bag. | Learn IN |
| on | on top of a surface | The cup is on the table. | Learn ON |
| under | below something | The cat is under the chair. | Learn UNDER |
| next to | at the side of | The bank is next to the shop. | Learn NEXT TO |
| between | in the middle of two things | The school is between the park and the library. | Learn BETWEEN |
| behind | at the back of | The car is behind the house. | Learn BEHIND |
The Rule in One Line: A preposition of place says where something is.
How to Learn These Six Words
Many learners try to memorise all six at the same time. That is hard. Your brain mixes them up.
The easy way is to learn one word a day. Open one lesson. Read the examples. Take the short quiz. Done. Tomorrow, the next one.
Six days, six prepositions, six small wins. That is how it sticks.
Test Yourself: Prepositions of Place
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. The milk is _______ the fridge.
2. The shop is _______ the bank and the cafe.
3. The garden is _______ the house.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You now know the six beginner prepositions of place by name. The next step is to make each one feel automatic.
The first one is in. It seems simple — but did you know there is one tiny rule that decides whether you say “in the bag” or “on the bag”? Most beginners get it wrong the first time.
Next lesson: Preposition IN — When and How to Use It
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.