What are Prepositions of Place?

Prepositions of place are words that show the position or location of something. They answer the question ‘Where?’

These small words are very important for making clear sentences in English. They help you describe where objects, people, or animals are.

Using 'In'

我们使用 in to talk about something that is inside a container, a room, a building, or a large area.

• 使用 in for things inside a box, bag, or room.
• 试想一下 in as 'inside'.

Using 'On'

我们使用 on to talk about something that is on a surface.

• 使用 on for things on a table, a wall, or the floor.
• 试想一下 on as 'touching the top surface'.

Using 'Under'

我们使用 under to talk about something that is below another object or surface.

• 使用 under for things below a table, a bed, or a tree.
• 试想一下 under as 'below something else'.

Using 'Behind'

我们使用 behind to talk about something that is at the back of another object.

• 使用 behind for things at the back of a door, a person, or a building.
• 试想一下 behind as 'at the back'.

Using 'In Front Of'

我们使用 in front of to talk about something that is at the forward part of another object or person.

• 使用 in front of for things at the front of a car, a house, or a screen.
• 试想一下 in front of as 'at the face side'.

Using 'Next To'

我们使用 next to to talk about something that is beside another object or person.

• 使用 next to for things very close to a chair, a window, or a friend.
• 试想一下 next to as 'beside' or 'very near'.

Using 'Between'

我们使用 between to talk about something that is in the middle of two other objects or people.

• 使用 between for things in the middle of two books, two people, or two buildings.
• 试想一下 between as 'in the middle of two things'.

示例

• The phone is in Anna's hand.
• The table is under the mirror.
• The monster is behind Anna.
• The chair is between the table and the blue door.
• The big lamp is next to the white door.
• The mat is in front of the monster.
• The books are next to the small lamp.
• My keys are in my bag.
• The picture is on the wall.
• The cat is under the bed.

练习

西班牙语母语者常犯的错误

Sometimes, Spanish speakers use in when English uses on, or vice-versa. It is important to remember the difference.

• In vs. On for surfaces: In Spanish, you might say 'en la mesa' for 'on the table'. But for things on a surface, English always uses on.
  • The book is on the table. (正确)
  • The book is in the table. (Incorrect)
• In vs. On for rooms/buildings: 你说 in the room, in the house. Not on the room.
  • I am in the classroom. (正确)
  • I am on the classroom. (Incorrect)

请记住，, in means inside a space, and on means on a surface.

常见问题

What is a preposition of place?

A preposition of place is a word that tells you the location or position of something. For example, in, on, under.

When do I use 'in'?

You use in when something is inside a container, a room, or a large area. For example, The apple is in the box.

When do I use 'on'?

You use on when something is on a surface. For example, The pen is on the desk.

What is the difference between 'behind' and 'in front of'?

Behind means at the back of something. In front of means at the forward part of something. For example, The tree is behind the house, ，但是 The car is in front of the house.

相关课程

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