Prepositions of Place – 23 Common Grammar Topics in the Cambridge Starters Exam

Prepositions of Place describe the location of one object in relation to another. Common examples include in, on, and at. For instance, “The book is on the table” shows the book’s position relative to the table. In is used for enclosed spaces like “She is in the room.” At is for specific points like “We are at the park.” Other prepositions like under, over, and between provide more detailed location descriptions. Learning how to use them correctly helps in giving clear directions and descriptions. “The journey of understanding begins with knowing where you stand.”

Prepositions of Place answer the question “Where?” Here are the most common ones which follows the verb and goes before the noun:
In, On, At, Under, Below, Over, Above, Behind, In front of, Next to, Beside, Near, Between, Opposite, Across from, Inside, Outside, Along (Dọc theo), Around (Xung quanh), Through (Xuyên qua), Toward (Towards) (Hướng về phía), Past (Đi qua, vượt qua), Onto (Lên trên bề mặt của cái gì đó), Into (Vào trong), Off (Ra khỏi), Out of (Ra khỏi), Beyond (Vượt xa hơn, ở ngoài), Among (Ở giữa nhiều đối tượng), Upon (Trên bề mặt (dùng trong ngữ cảnh trang trọng hơn “on”)), Beneath (Dưới (có tính trang trọng hoặc văn chương)), By (Bên cạnh, gần)

🔖 In: Means something is inside a space or area.
🏠 The cat is in the box. (The cat is inside the box.)
🛁 In the bathroom, the little boy is happily playing with his rubber duck while his mother watches carefully.
🍎 There are fresh apples in the basket, which is placed on the kitchen counter next to the fridge.
🌳 The children are playing in the park, running around the swings and slides under the warm afternoon sun.

🔖 On: Means something is touching a surface or positioned over it.
📚 The book is on the table. (The book is resting on the surface of the table.)
🍽️ She placed the plates on the table before serving the delicious dinner to everyone.
🌳 The bird sat on the highest branch of the tree, singing beautifully in the morning.
📱 On my phone, there are many notifications from work, friends, and family members.

🔖 Upon: Positioned on the surface of something (more formal than “on”).
🏰 The knight placed his sword upon the table. (Placing the sword on the surface of the table.)

🔖 At: Is used for specific locations or points.
🚪 She is at the door. (She is located near the door.)
🏫 She is waiting at the school gate for her brother to finish class.
🎉 They are having a party at their friend’s house to celebrate his birthday.
🕒 We will meet at 3 PM in front of the cafe near the park.

🔖 Under: Often suggests something is directly beneath or covered by another object (closer proximity). Under is more commonly used for physical objects (under a table, under a roof), often implying some kind of physical covering or proximity, close contact or directly beneath.
🐶 The dog is sleeping under the table, waiting for some food to fall down. (The dog is positioned below the table.)
⛺ We set up our tent under the trees to protect ourselves from the rain.
🎒 The student found his notebook under the chair after searching for it all morning.
🚗 The mechanic is working under the car, checking for any problems with the engine.

🔖 Beneath: Positioned at a lower level than something (more formal or poetic than “under”).
🌳 The bench is beneath the large oak tree. (Located below the tree.)

🔖 Below: Is more general and can refer to things that are at a lower level but further away. Below is used for levels, measurements, and altitude (below sea level, below zero degrees). Below also means at a lower position, but it does not necessarily imply direct beneath/contact or closeness or touching it.
🌍 The valley lies below the mountains. (The valley is at a lower altitude than the mountains.)
🌡️ The temperature today is below freezing, so make sure to bundle up for warmth.
🚤 The fish are swimming below the surface of the water, exploring the deep ocean.
🏞️ The village is located below the hills, surrounded by trees and beautiful landscapes.

🔖 Over: Means something is directly on top of or covering another object, used when something is vertically aligned or covering something else.
Over” can also indicate movement from one side to another
✈️ The airplane flew over the mountains, creating a beautiful view for the passengers onboard.
🌈 The rainbow stretched over the horizon, making the sky look magical after the rain.
🏠 The roof extends over the porch, providing shelter from the rain for people outside.
🌳 The tree branches hung over the fence, shading part of the garden from sunlight.

🔖 Above: Means something is at a higher level than another object, not necessarily directly on top.
More general and can refer to things that are not directly over something. Above does not usually convey movement.
🌳 The bird is flying above the tree, enjoying the clear sky and fresh air.
🌡️ The temperature today is well above normal, making it one of the hottest days.
🖼️ The painting is hung above the fireplace, adding a touch of elegance to the room. (The picture is higher up on the wall than the fireplace.)

🔖 Behind: Indicates something is at the back of something else.
🚗 The car is behind the house. (The car is positioned at the rear of the house.)
🐕 The dog is hiding behind the tree, waiting for its owner to call.
🎒 She placed her backpack behind the chair to keep it out of the walkway.
🏠 The garden is located behind the house, where the family enjoys their weekend barbecues.
🚗 The car is parked behind the garage, so it is not visible from the street.

🔖 In front of: Means something is ahead or at the face of another object.
🌳 The bench is in front of the tree. (The bench is placed before the tree.)
🚗 The car is parked in front of the supermarket waiting for its owner.
🏠 They stood in front of the house, admiring the beautiful flowers in the garden.
🎓 The students gathered in front of the school to take a group photo after graduation.
🚶 He waited in front of the entrance, hoping to meet his friend on time.

🔖 Next to: Shows something is directly adjacent/very close to another object, with no gap or very little space in between & often implies the closest possible position.
🛋️ The lamp is next to the sofa. (The lamp is positioned beside the sofa.)
🛋️ The sofa is next to the window, providing a perfect spot for reading books.
🚗 He parked his car next to mine, so we can leave together after work.
🍴 The restaurant is next to the coffee shop, making it convenient for a meal and dessert.

🔖 Beside: Indicates something is next to or at the side of another object, typically with no major distance, often interchangeable with Next to.
Beside is slightly more formal than Next to but the meaning is almost identical.
🛏️ The lamp is placed beside the bed. (The lamp is right next to the bed.)
🖥️ The laptop is beside the monitor on the desk, ready for the meeting.
🛋️ She placed the book beside the sofa, so she could read it later tonight.
🚶‍♂️ He stood beside his friend during the speech, offering quiet support and encouragement.

🔖 Near: Indicates something is close to or in proximity to another object, but not necessarily right next to it. Near allows for more distance/some space or objects in between than Next to or Beside.
🏫 The school is near the library. (The school is located close to the library.)
🏞️ The park is near the river, making it a perfect spot for an afternoon walk.
🏥 The hospital is near the school, providing quick access to medical care if needed.
🚉 The train station is near the shopping mall, making transportation convenient for shoppers.

🔖 By: Positioned near or next to something.
🌊 The house is by the sea. (Located close to the sea.)

🔖 Between: Means something is in the middle of two objects or people.
👨‍👩‍👧 The child is between her parents. (The child is in the space separating her parents.)
🌳 The playground is between the park and the library, making it easy for kids to find.
🚌 She sat between her friends on the bus, chatting happily during the entire trip.
🏠 The grocery store is located between the coffee shop and the post office on Main Street.

🔖 Among: In the middle of or surrounded by multiple things.
🌸 The flowers were hidden among the tall grasses. (Located within the group of tall grasses.)

🔖 Opposite: Indicates something is directly facing another object, often on the other side of a space. But opposite doesn’t always imply that kind of separation of a space, such as a road or open area. It describes two things that face each other, directly or indirectly, without needing a physical divider like a road. For example, it can be used for two objects are directly across a room from each other. “She is sitting opposite me at the table.” This doesn’t mean there’s a road between them, just that they are facing each other. Opposite can be used more broadly in various contexts, not just with physical locations.
🏛️ The café is opposite the museum. (The café is directly across from the museum.)
🏢 The office building is opposite the park, offering a beautiful view during breaks.
🍽️ She is sitting opposite me at the dining table, and we are having dinner together.
🛋️ The sofa is placed opposite the television in the living room for easy viewing.
🍽️ The restaurant is opposite the cinema, making it easy to grab dinner after a movie.
🚌 The bus stop is opposite the school, making it convenient for students to catch the bus.
🍽️ She is sitting opposite her friend at the dining table, discussing their weekend plans.
🖥️ The two computers are placed opposite each other on the same desk in the office.
🎮 The players are positioned opposite each other during the chess game, concentrating on their next moves.

🔖 Across from: Refers to something that is on the other side of a space, such as a road or open area, facing the object.
It implies that there is a physical distance or a divider like a street, river, or open space between the two objects.
🏠 The park is across from my house. (The park is on the opposite side of the street, facing the house.)
🏫 The library is across from the school, making it easy for students to visit frequently.
🍽️ The café is located across from the park, offering a nice view while enjoying coffee.
🏢 My office is across from a shopping mall, so I often go there during lunch breaks.

🔖 Inside: Refers to being within or enclosed by something, it can be used metaphorically to describe emotions, thoughts, or abstract content.
🧸 The toys are neatly placed inside the box, ready for the kids to play. (The toys are enclosed within the box.)
💓 The heart pumps blood inside your body, keeping you healthy and full of energy.
🐶 The puppy is hiding inside the small house, enjoying a quiet nap away from noise.
🧠 Inside his mind, there were so many creative ideas waiting to be shared with others.
📬 There are important documents inside the envelope, waiting to be delivered to the office.
🍎 The vitamins inside this fruit help strengthen your immune system and keep you feeling fresh.
🎒 Her phone is safely stored inside her backpack, ensuring it doesn’t get lost during travel.
💡 He felt a warm sense of pride growing inside after receiving the award.
👂 You could hear a soft melody playing inside the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
🥛 The milk is kept inside the fridge to stay fresh for a longer time.
🧠 Inside her mind, she was already planning her next big adventure.
💬 Inside the speech, there was a powerful message about hope and perseverance.

🔖 Outside: Refers to being on the exterior or not within an enclosed space. It also being used for abstract or metaphorical meanings, like beyond limits, responsibilities, or normal boundaries.
🚪 🐕 The dog is playing outside the house, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. (The dog is in an open space, not inside the house.)
🧠 Her ideas are outside the norm, making her a creative thinker in the team.
🚪 She waited outside the office for an hour before her appointment started.
📈 The company is expanding outside its usual market, targeting new customers abroad.
🎨 The artist set up his easel outside the café, painting the busy street scene.
🔄 This project falls outside my responsibilities, but I’m willing to help if needed.
🌧️ They stood outside the store, waiting for the rain to stop before going home.
🕑 The meeting lasted outside regular business hours, continuing late into the evening.
🏠 There is a large tree growing outside their window, giving them plenty of shade.
🌍 The treaty has impact outside national borders, affecting international relations significantly.
🚗 He parked his car outside the supermarket and went inside to buy groceries.
🏫 The children gathered outside the school before the bell rang for morning assembly.

🔖 Along: Moving in a constant direction on a path or beside something.
🛤️ We walked along the river. (Walking beside or parallel to the river.)

🔖 Around: Surrounding something or in a circular path.
🌳 They built a fence around the garden. (Encircling the garden.)

🔖 Through: Moving from one side to the other within something.
🌲 We walked through the forest. (Moving from one part of the forest to another.)

🔖 Toward (Towards): In the direction of something.
🚶 She ran toward the station. (Moving closer to the station.)

🔖 Past: Moving beyond a specific point or object.
🏠 We walked past the bakery on our way home. (Walking beyond the bakery.)

🔖 Onto: Moving to a position on top of something.
🚴 He jumped onto the bike and rode away. (Moving from one place to the top of the bike.)

🔖 Into: Moving inside or within something.
🏡 She went into the house to grab her keys. (Entering the house.)

🔖 Off: Moving away from a surface or position.
🛋️ The cat jumped off the couch. (Moving away from the surface of the couch.)

🔖 Out of: Moving from the inside to the outside of something.
🚪 He walked out of the room without saying a word. (Leaving the room.)

🔖 Beyond: Further than or outside the limits of something.
🌄 The village is beyond the hills. (Located on the other side of the hills.)