Prepositions of Time and Place Easy Guide

Prepositions are small words, but they are very important in English. Words like in, on, and at help us talk about time and place. For many English learners and ESL students, these words can be confusing because the rules are different in every language.

Don’t worry. This guide will explain prepositions of time and place in a simple and clear way, with many examples you can use in daily life.

---

What Are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that show where something is or when something happens.

Examples:

• The book is on the table. (place)
• The meeting is at 3 o’clock. (time)

In this article, we will focus on the most common prepositions.

---

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time tell us when something happens.

IN – for long periods of time

Use in for:

• months
• years
• seasons
• parts of the day (except night)

Examples:

• I was born in 1995.
• We have a holiday in August.
• It is cold in winter.
• I study English in the morning.

❌ Not: in night
✅ Say: at night

---

ON – for days and dates

Use on for:

• days of the week
• specific dates

Examples:

• I work on Monday.
• The class is on Friday.
• My birthday is on May 10.

---

AT – for exact times

Use at for:

• clock times
• night
• short moments

Examples:

• The lesson starts at 9 o’clock.
• I sleep at night.
• Let’s meet at lunchtime.

---

Quick Time Summary

• in → long time (in 2024, in the morning)
• on → days and dates (on Monday)
• at → exact time (at 6:30)

---

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place tell us where something or someone is. For English learners and ESL beginners, the most important prepositions of place are in, on, and at. These come first because you will use them every day.

After that, we will look at a few more basic prepositions of place that help you describe position more clearly.

---

IN – inside something

Use in when something is inside a space, area, or container.

You often use in with:

• rooms
• buildings
• cities and countries
• boxes, bags, and containers

Examples:

• The keys are in my bag.
• She is in the kitchen.
• He lives in London.
• There is milk in the fridge.

Think: inside the space → use in.

---

ON – on a surface

Use on when something is touching a surface.

You often use on with:

• tables
• walls
• floors
• screens

Examples:

• The book is on the table.
• There is a picture on the wall.
• My phone is on the desk.
• She sits on the chair.

Think: touching a surface → use on.

---

AT – a point or specific place

Use at when you talk about a specific place or point, not the inside.

You often use at with:

• home
• school
• work
• bus stops
• doors

Examples:

• I am at home.
• She is at school.
• We are waiting at the bus stop.
• He is standing at the door.

Think: a point or location → use at.

---

Quick Summary

• in → inside (in a room, in a city)
• on → on a surface (on the table)
• at → a point/place (at home, at the door)

---

More Basic Prepositions of Place

Now let’s look at some other very common prepositions of place that help you describe where things are.

---

UNDER – below something

Use under when something is below another thing.

Examples:

• The cat is under the table.
• My shoes are under the bed.

---

OVER – above something (not touching)

Use over when something is above another thing and not touching it.

Examples:

• The lamp is over the table.
• The plane is flying over the city.

---

NEXT TO – very close

Use next to when two things are very close or beside each other.

Examples:

• The bank is next to the supermarket.
• She is sitting next to me.

---

IN FRONT OF – before something

Use in front of when something is before or facing another thing.

Examples:

• The car is in front of the house.
• He is standing in front of the class.

---

BEHIND – at the back

Use behind when something is at the back of another thing.

Examples:

• The garden is behind the house.
• She is sitting behind him.

---

BETWEEN – in the middle of two things

Use between when something is in the middle of two things.

Examples:

• The shop is between the bank and the café.
• She is sitting between her friends.

---

Everyday Example Sentences

• My bag is on the chair in the room.
• The dog is under the table.
• I am at home, sitting on the sofa.
• The school is next to the park.

Prepositions of place are small words, but they help your English sound clear and natural. Practice them a little every day, and they will become easy.