Prepositions of place: in / on / under / next to
Prepositions of place tell you WHERE something is. The trick is choosing the right one: in (inside), on (on a surface), under (below), next to (at the side), between (in the middle of two), in front of / behind, above / below / near.
in — inside
Use "in" when something is inside a space or area: a box, a room, a city, a country.
- •The keys are in the bag.
- •She is in the kitchen.
- •We live in London.
on — on a surface
Use "on" when something touches a surface from above or on the side: a table, the floor, a wall.
- •The book is on the table.
- •There is a picture on the wall.
- •The cat is on the bed.
under — below / underneath
Use "under" when something is directly below another thing.
- •The cat is under the chair.
- •Your shoes are under the bed.
next to / beside — at the side
Use "next to" (= "beside") for something right at the side of another thing.
- •The bank is next to the shop.
- •Come and sit next to me.
between — in the middle of two
Use "between" for something in the middle of two other things.
- •The shop is between the bank and the café.
- •He sat between his parents.
in front of / behind — front / back
Use "in front of" for the front side and "behind" for the back side of something.
- •The car is in front of the house.
- •The garden is behind the house.
above / below / near
"above" = higher than (not touching); "below" = lower than; "near" = close to.
- •The lamp is above the table.
- •The temperature is below zero.
- •The shop is near the station.