Prepositions are essential elements in the English language that provide information about the relationships between different elements in a sentence. Prepositions of place, in particular, help us describe the location or position of an object or person in relation to another object or place. In this article, we will explore the definition, rules, and examples of prepositions of place, and then provide a worksheet to test your knowledge.
Prepositions of place are words that show the location or position of something or someone in relation to another object, place, or point. These prepositions help us answer questions like "Where is it?" or "Where are they?" by indicating the position of the subject. Prepositions of place are vital for clear and accurate communication.
Preposition | Rule | Examples |
---|---|---|
Above | Higher in position than something else. | The bird is flying above the clouds. |
On top of | Directly resting on another surface. | The book is on top of the table. |
On | Positioned above or in contact with. | The picture is hanging on the wall. |
Under | Lower in position than something else. | Her bag is under the chair. |
Below | Positioned beneath or lower than. | The shipwreck is below the surface. |
Underneath | Below or beneath in a concealed manner. | She found her lost ring underneath the sofa. |
Beneath | Located below or under something else. | The roots of the tree spread beneath the ground. |
Into | Denotes movement from outside to inside | She walked into the room. |
Behind | Positioned at the back of something. | She's hiding behind the curtain. |
In front of | Located ahead of or before something else. | The children are playing in front of the house. |
Between | Positioned in the middle of two objects. | The cat is sitting between two pillows. |
Beside | Positioned next to or alongside something else. | He sat beside his sister during the movie. |
Next to | Directly adjacent to or immediately beside something. | There's a park next to the school. |
Near | Close in proximity to something. | We live near the ocean. |
Close to | Similar to "near," indicating proximity. | he cafe is close to the office. |
By | Indicates being near or beside something. | She stood by the window. |
In | Signifies being enclosed or within a space. | The ball is in the box. |
Inside | Similar to "in," implying interior placement. | It's raining, so we're staying inside the house. |
Within | Indicates being inside a certain boundary or limit. | The keys are somewhere within the house. |
Out | Refers to a position beyond or not within a space. | He's playing out in the yard. |
Outside | Similar to "out," indicating exterior placement. | The kids are playing outside the school. |
Out of | Indicates movement from inside to outside. | Please step out of the car. |
These prepositions, along with their descriptions and examples, will help you better understand how to use them when describing the position or location of objects, people, or places.