Basics. Prepositions of Place: At, On, and In: correct answers
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English prepositions of place can be tricky, but they follow reliable guidelines. Use in for enclosed spaces or geographic regions (like in the closet or in Tokyo), on for surfaces (like on the wall or on the sofa), and at for specific points or locations (like at the bus stop or at the front desk).
Inside this challenge, you will practice these rules through a variety of fun, real-world scenarios. You will help a detective track down a stolen painting, decode an alien tourist's postcard from Earth, translate a demanding cat's diary, and figure out where a messy roommate left their keys. You will practice choosing the correct preposition for rooms, furniture, buildings, islands, and cities.
You'll work through 12 questions featuring a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Read the roommate's passive-aggressive sticky note and choose the correct word to complete it.
"Please do not leave your wet towel ___ the sofa. It is ruining the cushions!"
The correct answer is on.
We use on when something is touching the surface of an object, like a sofa, a table, or the floor.
Question 2
I am having a wonderful time in Tokyo!
We use in for cities, countries, and large geographic areas.
My spaceship is safely parked on the roof of my hotel.
We use on for flat surfaces, including roofs, tables, and streets.
Right now, I am standing at the front desk waiting for my room key.
We use at to talk about a specific point or a station where an activity happens (like a desk or a counter).
Question 3
The correct answers are We are waiting for you at the bus stop. and I will see you at the concert tonight!
We use at for specific points or locations (like a bus stop or a door) and for events (like a concert or a party).
"In the door" is incorrect because a door is a specific point, so we use at the door.
"On the new restaurant" is incorrect because a restaurant is either a specific location (at) or an enclosed building (in), but never a surface (on).
Question 4
Finish the travel blogger's review of a very unusual hotel by dragging the correct prepositions to the gaps.
The hotel is located on a tiny island. The rooms are very strange because my bed is actually in a giant wooden barrel. Plus, there is a parrot waiting at the reception desk to give you your room keys!
The hotel is located on a tiny island.
We use on for islands, as they are considered surfaces of land surrounded by water.
The rooms are very strange because my bed is actually in a giant wooden barrel.
We use in for containers or enclosed spaces (even weird ones like a giant barrel!).
Plus, there is a parrot waiting at the reception desk to give you your room keys!
We use at for specific points or stations where a particular activity happens, like a reception desk.
Question 5
The correct answers are Your keys are on the kitchen table. and I saw your jacket on the second floor.
We use on to talk about surfaces (like a table, a sofa, or a ceiling) and for the floors of a building.
"In the ceiling" is incorrect because the ceiling is a surface, so it should be on the ceiling.
"At the sofa" is incorrect because a sofa is a surface we place things on, so it should be on the sofa.
Question 6
Today, I slept for six hours on the comfortable green sofa.
We use on for surfaces, including most furniture you sit or lie on (like a sofa or a bed).
Then, I meowed loudly at the front door until the human opened it.
We use at for specific points in a space, such as a door or a window.
Finally, I took another long nap in the kitchen.
We use in for enclosed spaces, such as rooms in a house.
Question 7
Help Detective Paws locate his missing breakfast by dragging the correct prepositions into the blanks.
He knew he had left his favorite jelly donut on his desk. However, when he returned, there were only sticky crumbs left in the empty box! He finally found his partner happily eating the donut at the front door.
He knew he had left his favorite jelly donut on his desk.
We use on for surfaces, like a desk or a table.
However, when he returned, there were only sticky crumbs left in the empty box!
We use in for enclosed spaces or containers, like a box.
He finally found his partner happily eating the donut at the front door.
We use at for specific points or locations, like a door or a bus stop.
Question 8
Complete the text message you are sending to your very late friend.
"I am already waiting for you ___ the bus stop. Hurry up, I forgot my jacket and it's freezing!"
The correct answer is at.
We use at to talk about a specific point or location on a map, such as a bus stop, the door, or the entrance.
Question 9
The correct answers are I am hiding in the closet. and The secret documents are in London.
We use in for enclosed spaces (like a closet or a room) and for cities or countries (like London or Paris).
"On the living room" is incorrect because a living room is an enclosed space, so we use in.
"At Paris" is incorrect because Paris is a city, so we also use in.
Question 10
Help Alex retrace his steps to find his missing phone. Choose the correct word to complete his sentence.
"I swear I left my phone ___ the kitchen drawer, but it's not here! Did the cat steal it again?"
The correct answer is in.
We use in for enclosed spaces or containers, like a drawer, a box, or a room.
Question 11
The stolen painting wasn't on the wall where it usually hangs.
We use on for flat surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings.
Instead, we found it hidden in a large cardboard box.
We use in for enclosed spaces or containers.
Meanwhile, the thief was just waiting at the bus stop outside!
We use at for specific points or locations, like a bus stop or a door.
Question 12
Complete the frantic text messages between two friends trying to find each other at a concert by dragging the right words into the blanks.
Alex: I am standing at the main entrance, where are you? Sam: I am already in the building! Alex: Well, my seat is on the second floor, so hurry up!
Alex: I am standing at the main entrance, where are you?
We use at to talk about a specific point or meeting place, like an entrance.
Sam: I am already in the building!
We use in when someone or something is inside a 3D space or enclosed area.
Alex: Well, my seat is on the second floor, so hurry up!
We use on when talking about the floors or levels of a building.