In / at / on (Position) 3

Question 1

We say that somebody is __ home / __ work.

Answer 1

We say that somebody is at home / at work.

I’ll be at work until 5:30, but I’ll be at home all evening.

Note: we can also say be/stay home (without at):

• I’ll be home all evening.

Question 2

We say that somebody is __ the hospital / prison / jail.

Answer 2

We say that somebody is __ the hospital / prison / jail.

• Ann’s mother is in the hospital.

Question 3

You can be __ or __ college.

Answer 3

You can be at or in college.

We use “at” here to say where some one is:

• Kim is not living at home. She’s always at college.

But we use “in” to say what someone is doing:

• Amy works at a bank and her brother is in medical school. _{(= he’s studying medicine)}

Question 4

We say that somebody is __ event (a party / a conference / a wedding etc.

Answer 4

We say that somebody is __ event (a party / a conference / a wedding etc.

• I saw Steve at a party / tennis match / the wedding Saturday.

Question 5

You can use often __ or __ whit buildings.

Answer 5

You can use often in or at whit buildings.

We usually say at when we say where an event takes place:

• We had dinner at he hotel.

But use in when we are thinking about de building itself:

• All the rooms in the hotel have air conditionning.

Question 6

We say __ somebody’s house and we __ the doctor’s / the station / the airport.

Answer 6

We say at somebody’s house and we at the doctor’s / the station / the airport.

• I was at Sue’s house last night or I was at Sue’s last night.
• I was at the doctor’s this morning.

Question 7

We normally use __ with cities, towns, and villages.

Answer 7

We normally use in with cities, towns, and villages.

• Sam’s parents live in St. Louis (not at St. Louis)
• The Louvre is a famous museum in Paris.

But you can use at or in when you think of the place as a point or station on a trip:

• Does this train stop at (or in) Denver
• We stop at (or in) a smal town on the way to Denver.

Question 8

We usually say __ a bus / a train a plane / a ship but __ a car / a taxi.

Answer 8

We usually say on a bus / a train / a plane / a ship but in a car /a taxi.

• The bus was very fulL There were too many people on it.
• Laura arrived in a taxi.

We say on a bike (= bicycle) / a motorbike / on a horse:

• Jane passed me on her bike.

Question 9

Use in, at, or on.

We walked to the restaurant, but we went home __ a taxi.

Answer 9

Use in, at, or on.

We walked to the restaurant, but we went home in a taxi.

Question 10

Use in, at, or on.

Some people are __ prison for crimes that they did not commit.

Answer 10

Use in, at, or on.

Some people are in prison for crimes that they did not commit.

Question 11

Use in, at, or on.

‘What does your sister do? Does she have a job?’ ‘No, she’s still __ school.’

Answer 11

Use in, at, or on.

‘What does your sister do? Does she have a job?’ ‘No, she’s still at school.’

Question 12

Use in, at, or on.

I play basketball __ the gym on Friday evenings.

Answer 12

Use in, at, or on.

I play basketball at the gym on Friday evenings.

Question 13

Use in, at, or on.

A friend of mine was injured in an accident a few days ago. She’s still __ the hospital.

Answer 13

Use in, at, or on.

A friend of mine was injured in an accident a few days ago. She’s still in the hospital.

Question 14

Use in, at, or on.

Our flight was delayed. We had to wait __ the airport for four hours.

Answer 14

Use in, at, or on.

Our flight was delayed. We had to wait at/in the airport for four hours.

Question 15

Use in, at, or on.

I enjoyed the flight, but the food __ the plane wasn’t very nice.

Answer 15

Use in, at, or on.

I enjoyed the flight, but the food on the plane wasn’t very nice.

Question 16

Use in, at, or on.

lt was a very slow train. lt stopped __ every station.

Answer 16

Use in, at, or on.

lt was a very slow train. lt stopped at every station.

Question 17

Use in, at, or on.

My parents live __ a small village about 50 miles from Montréat.

Answer 17

Use in, at, or on.

My parents live in a small village about 50 miles from Montréat.

Question 18

Use in, at, or on.

We stayed __ a very nice hotel when we were __ Amsterdam.

Answer 18

Use in, at, or on.

We stayed at/in a very nice hotel when we were in Amsterdam.

Question 19

Use in, at, or on.

There were about fifty rooms __ the hotel.

Answer 19

Use in, at, or on.

There were about fifty rooms in the hotel.

Question 20

Use in, at, or on.

I don’t know where my umbrella is. Perhaps I left it __ the bus.

Answer 20

Use in, at, or on.

I don’t know where my umbrella is. Perhaps I left it on the bus.

Question 21

Use in, at, or on.

‘Where were you on Monday evening?’ ‘I was __ a friend’s house.’

Answer 21

Use in, at, or on.

‘Where were you on Monday evening?’ ‘I was at a friend’s house.’

Question 22

Use in, at, or on.

There must be somebody __ the house. The lights are on.

Answer 22

Use in, at, or on.

There must be somebody in the house. The lights are on.

Question 23

Use in, at, or on.

Shall we travel __ your car or mine?

Answer 23

Use in, at, or on.

Shall we travel in your car or mine?

Question 24

Use in, at, or on.

I didn’t expect you to be __ home. I thought you’d be __ work.

Answer 24

Use in, at, or on.

I didn’t expect you to be (at) home. I thought you’d be at work.

Question 25

Use in, at, or on.

Did you like the movie?.’ ‘Yes, but it was too hot __ the cinema.

Answer 25

Use in, at, or on.

Did you like the movie?.’ ‘Yes, but it was too hot in the cinema.