Mastering Prepositions: “In,” “At,” and “On” Usage
“In,” “At,” and “On” – Common Prepositions:
I like reading in bed. / We’re going to Italy next month. / Sue is on holiday in Italy at the moment. / I have to go to the bank today. / I was tired, so I stayed in late. / What time do you usually go to bed? / Does this bus go to the center? / Would you like to live in another country?
Paula didn’t go to work yesterday. / I’m tired. I’m going home. / Tina is not very well. She has gone to the doctor. / Would you like to come to a party on Saturday? / Is Liz at home? No, she’s gone to work. / There were 20,000 people at the football match. / Why did you go home early last night? / A boy jumped into the river and swam to the other side. / There were a lot of people waiting at the bus stop. / We had a good meal at a restaurant, and then we went back to the hotel.
I’m not going out this afternoon. I’m staying at home. / We’re going to a concert tomorrow evening. / I went to New York last year. / How long did you stay in New York? / Next year we hope to go to Canada to visit some friends. / Do you want to go to the cinema this evening? / Did you park your car at the station? / After the accident, three people were taken to hospital. / How often do you go to the dentist? / Is Sarah here? No, she’s at Helen’s. / My house is at the end of the street on the left. / I went to Maria’s house, but she wasn’t at home. / There were no taxis, so we had to walk home. / Who did you meet at the party? I didn’t go to the party.
What time do you usually get to work? / What time do you usually get home? / What time did you arrive at the party? / When did you arrive in London? / What time does the train get to Paris? / We arrived home very late.
At three o’clock this morning, I was in bed. / Yesterday I went to the cinema. / At 11 o’clock yesterday morning, I was in Barcelona. / One day I’d like to go to France. / I don’t like going to Madrid. / At 9 o’clock yesterday evening, I was in Tarragona.
“In,” “At,” and “On” – Location Examples
Where is she? In hospital. / Where are they? At the airport. / Where is he? In bed. / Where are they? On a ship. / Where are the stars? In the sky. / Where are they? At a party. / Where is Steve? At the doctor’s. / Where is the restaurant? On the second floor. / Where is she? At work. / Where are they? On a plane. / Where are they? In a taxi. / Where are they? At a wedding.
Helen is studying law at university. / There was a big table in the middle of the room. / What is the longest river in the world? / Were there many people at the concert last night? / Will you be at home tomorrow afternoon? / Who is the man in this photograph? Do you know him? / Where are your children? Are they at school? / Gary is coming by train. I’m going to meet him at the station. / Charlie is in hospital. He had an operation yesterday. / How many pages are there in this book? / Are you hungry after your journey? No, I had something to eat on the train. / I’m sorry I’m late. My car broke down on the way here. / Is Tom here? No, he’s at his brother’s. / Don’t believe everything you see in the newspaper! / I walked to work, but I came home on the bus.
Bye! See you on Friday. / Where were you on 28 February? / I got up at 8 o’clock this morning. / I like getting up early in the morning. / My sister got married in May. / Diane and I first met in 1991. / Did you go out on Tuesday? / Did you go out on Tuesday evening? / Do you often go out in the evening? / Let’s meet at 7:30 tomorrow evening? / I often go away at the weekend. / I’m starting my new job on 3 July. / We often go to the beach in summer. / George isn’t here at the moment. / Jane’s birthday is in December. / Do you work on Saturdays? / The company started in 1989. / I like to look at the stars at night. / I’ll send you the money in the end of the month.
It’s 8:25 now. The train leaves at 8:30. The train leaves in five minutes. / It’s Monday today. I’ll call you on Thursday. I’ll call you in three days. / Today is 14 June. My exam is on 28 June. My exam will be in two days. / It’s 3 o’clock now. Tom will be here at 3:30. Tom will be here in thirty minutes.
I’m going on Friday (I’m going next Friday). / I always feel tired in the evening. / Will you be at home this evening? / We went to France last summer. / Laura was born in 1990. / What are you doing at the weekend? / I phone Robert every Sunday. / Shall we play tennis next Sunday? / I can’t go to the party on Sunday. / I’m going out. I’ll be back in an hour. / I don’t often go out at night.