04 Prepositions of place: details Flashcards
The car was waiting at the lights.
There’s someone at the door.
“At” is one-dimensional. We use it when we see something as a point in space.
We met at Daphne’s party, didn’t we?
We also use at+ event.
The Browns are at the theatre (watching a play).
I bought these dishes at the supermarket.
Nicola is fifteen. She’s still at school.
We use at+ building when we are talking about the normal purpose of the building.
I had a cup of coffee at Angela’s (house/flat)
We also use at for a person’s house or flat.
Don’t leave your glass on the floor.
There were lots of pictures on the walls.
On is two-dimensional. We use it for a surface.
Paris is on the Seine.
The house is right on the main road, so it’s a bit noisy.
We also use on for a line.
I haven’t got any money on/ with me at the moment.
We also use on in this special sense.
I had five pounds in my pocket.
Who’s that man in the green sweater?
There was a man sitting in the waiting room.
“In” is three-dimensional. We use it when we see something as all around.
It was cold in the library.
We were at the library.
(= inside the building) (= choosing a book)
We finally arrived in Birmingham/at Land’s End.
In general we use in for a country or town and at for a smaller place.
You have to change trains at Birmingham.
But we can use at with a town if we see it as a point on a journey.
I’ve lived in the village all my life.
And we can use in for a smaller place if we see it as three-dimensional.
At Grove Road. At your house. At the station. At home/work/school. At the seaside. At the back. At the end of a queue.
Repeat
On the third floor. On the platform. On the page. On the screen. On the island. On the beach/coast. On the right. On the left. On the back of an envelope (sobre).
Repeat
In Spain In France. In Grove Road. In the lesson. In a book. In a newspaper. In the photo. In the picture. In the country In the middle In the back/front of a car. In a queue/line/row
Repeat
