Prepositions of Location: Usage, List & Practice Worksheet

What Are the Prepositions of Location?

Prepositions of Location are the basic terms that are put into use to define where something or someone is situated. These prepositions are of great help as you can indicate position, direction, and spatial relationships.

In a sentence, these propositions allow us to link nouns or pronouns to other parts, including the subject, offering a detailed context regarding location. If you are still confused about what we are talking about, here are commonly used location propositions that might help you understand the context.

• In
• At
• On

Apart from these, some other locational prepositions used in various contexts are:

• Above/Over
• Below/Under
• Behind
• Beside/ Next to
• Between
• Near/ Close to

Usage of Prepositions of Location

Before using prepositions of location, one key point you have to keep in mind is that each of them is used for varying purposes and in different contexts. To help you understand better, here is a detailed explanation.

1. In: One of the most commonly used location prepositions is "In". It is used to indicate something that is inside or within a space, area, or container. You can use "in" while addressing spaces like rooms, buildings, vehicles, or countries.

For example: The wallet is in the car.

1. On: A preposition you can use when you want to address something placed on top of a surface or an object, use "on". It can be perfect for addressing situations like streets, floors, surfaces, and even devices.

For example: The laptop is on the bed.

1. At: A preposition for location used to pinpoint specific and precise spaces in time. You can put "at" into use to indicate locations like addresses, buildings, or even events.

For example: He is waiting for her at the airport.

• Other Prepositions: Apart from the prepositions of location in on at, other prepositions including, "above," "beside," "under," "near," "below," "behind", and "between", are also widely used to tell about location or a position close to something. Get the brief idea of this with the help of preposition of location examples.

For example:

• The frame is hanging above the table.
• The cat sat beside him.
• I slept under the open sky.
• The mall is near the school.
• The temperature is below freezing.
• The car is parked behind the garage.
• The ball is stuck between the two fences.

Difference Between In, On, And At

Prepositions of Location Examples in Sentences

With the various locational prepositions, it is a common instance for any learner to get confused. The list is wide, and each of them is used in a distinct context. Now, to help you avoid the mix-up, here is the list of location prepositions with sentence examples, allowing you to grasp the wider picture.

Prepositions of Location Practice Worksheets

While we have covered prepositions of location meaning, their usage, and examples, it’s time to check your understanding of this topic. Go ahead and solve these prepositions of location exercises and cross-check them with the answers provided to know your mistakes.

Practice Exercise 1- Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate preposition of location.

Pick from the list provided (in, on, at, under, over, above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind, near)

1. The event hall is located __________ the theatre and the public square.
2. The ancient frame was hidden __________ a stack of old books in the library.
3. The artist displayed his painting __________ the fireplace, where it would capture everyone’s attention.
4. The magnificent chandelier swung __above________ the grand staircase, casting an elegant glow on everything below.
5. The bakery is located __________ the grocery store, making it easy to grab fresh bread while shopping.
6. The secret section is expertly hidden __________ the drawer, accessible only by a hidden button.
7. We decided to take a shortcut __________ the alley, instead of walking all the way around the block.
8. The family decided to set up their picnic __________ the large oak tree, where it was cooler.
9. I noticed a mysterious shadow moving __________ the curtains, just outside the room.
10. The hikers stopped to rest _________ a small creek, taking in the peaceful sounds of nature.

Answer for Exercise 1

1. The event hall is located between the theatre and the public square.
2. The ancient frame was hidden under a stack of old books in the library.
3. The artist displayed his painting in front of the fireplace, where it would capture everyone’s attention.
4. The magnificent chandelier swung above the grand staircase, casting an elegant glow on everything below.
5. The bakery is located beside the grocery store, making it easy to grab fresh bread while shopping.
6. The secret section is expertly hidden in the drawer, accessible only by a hidden button.
7. We decided to take a shortcut through the alley, instead of walking all the way around the block.
8. The family decided to set up their picnic beside the large oak tree, where it was cooler.
9. I noticed a mysterious shadow moving behind the curtains, just outside the room.
10. The hikers stopped to rest near a small creek, taking in the peaceful sounds of nature.

Practice Exercise 2- Multiple Choice Answers

Choose the correct preposition of location from the options given.

1. Rohan is standing __________ her two friends.

a) behind

b) between

c) under

2. The mouse is hiding __________ the bed.

a) over

b) behind

c) between

3. The bag is __________ the shelf.

a) on

b) in

c) under

4. The supermarket is __________ the corner of the street.

a) beside

b) near

c) between

5. The boy is sitting __________ the desk.

a) beside

b) under

c) near

6. There is a mall __________ my office.

a) near

b) under

c) above

7. The plane is flying __________ the clouds.

a) under

b) above

c) near

8. There is a lamp ________ the kitchen island.

a) on

b) behind

c) near

9. The vehicle is parked __________ the driveway.

a) in

b) on

c) at

10. I left my watch __________ the table.

a) in front of

b) on

c) behind

Answer for Exercise 2

1. (b) Between
2. (b) Behind
3. (a) On
4. (b) Near
5. (a) Beside
6. (a) Near
7. (b) Above
8. (a) On
9. (a) In
10. (b) On

Conclusion

This sums up our small yet detailed guide on prepositions of Location. We hope that throughout this journey, you have learned this grammatical element from scratch. As per the prepositions of location definition, these are words that indicate where something is in relation to something else. However, they are more than that because mastering these prepositions can help you improve your written and spoken communication. Meanwhile, if you are interested in learning other various types of grammatical elements, connect with our experts now at Gradding.com to start your learning journey.

FAQs

1. What is the preposition of a location?

Prepositions of location tell where something or someone is situated or located. Some of the common examples include in, or, at, under, above, behind, and between.

2. How to use the preposition of location?

To use the prepositions of location, remember

• "In" is for enclosed spaces,
• "On" for surfaces
• "At" for specific points or locations
• Other prepositions like "under," "over," "next to," and "between" are used for other spatial relationships. 

3. Should I use in or at for a location?

In simple terms, "in" is used for enclosed spaces or larger areas and on the other hand, "at" is used to address specific locations or points.

4. Which is correct, located in or located at?

Both terms are correct and are used in distinct contexts. "Located in" is normally used for larger areas like cities or countries, and "located at" is used for specific addresses or points within a location.

5. Which preposition is used to show the location of something?

Prepositions like in, on, at, above, below, near, behind, in front of, between, and under are put into use to display the location of something. These are words that help in indicating a spatial relationship between a noun and another object or place.