What Are Prepositions of Place?

Prepositions of place are small words. They tell us the position of a person or a thing. They answer the question ‘Where?’

Today, we will learn three important prepositions:

• in
• on
• under

When Do We Use 'In'?

Utilizamos in when something is inside a space or a container. Think of it as 'inside'.

• The object is surrounded by something.
• The object is part of a larger area.

Fíjate en estos ejemplos:

• The pencils are in the box.
• My keys are in my pocket.
• The fish are in the water.

When Do We Use 'On'?

Utilizamos on when something is on a surface. Think of it as 'touching the top'.

• The object is resting on a flat surface.
• The object is attached to a surface.

Fíjate en estos ejemplos:

• The book is on the table.
• The picture is on the wall.
• The cat is sleeping on the sofa.

When Do We Use 'Under'?

Utilizamos under when something is below another thing. It means 'below' or 'beneath'.

• The object is at a lower level.
• The object is covered by something else.

Fíjate en estos ejemplos:

• The ball is under the bed.
• The dog is under the tree.
• My shoes are under the chair.

Ejemplos

• The juice is in the glass.
• My phone is on the desk.
• The remote control is under the pillow.
• The toys are in the basket.
• The clock is on the shelf.
• The mouse is under the table.

Práctica

Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes

Spanish speakers often use 'en' for both in y on. In English, these words are different and important.

• Incorrecto: The pen is en the book. (If it's on top of the book)
• Correcto: The pen is on the book.
• Incorrecto: The water is on the bottle. (If it's inside the bottle)
• Correcto: The water is in the bottle.

Remember to think: Is it *inside* a container or *on* a surface?

Preguntas más frecuentes

What is a preposition of place?

A preposition of place is a word like in, on, o under. It tells you where something is located.

How can I remember 'in', 'on', and 'under'?

Think of simple pictures: in (inside a box), on (on top of a table), under (below a chair). Practice with objects around you!

Can 'in' mean 'on' sometimes?

No, not usually. In means inside a space or container. On means on a surface. They have different meanings in English.

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