English (UK) · Prepositions

Place: in, on, at

To say where something is, English mostly uses in, on and at:

in = inside a space or an area: in the kitchen, in the box, in my pocket, in the garden, in the sky, in the sea, in a town, in London. Also in bed and in a photo.
on = touching a surface: on the table, on the wall, on the floor, on the ceiling, on the roof, on page 12. We also say on the bus, on the train and on the internet.
at = a point, or a place where something happens: at the bus stop, at the door, at the entrance, at work, at home, an address (at 10 High Street), someone's home or practice (at my aunt's, at the dentist's), and at the top or bottom of something.

Tip: think of in as a container, on as a surface and at as a point on a map.

Examples

She's the kitchen.Show answer

She's in the kitchen.

Your keys are the kitchen table.Show answer

Your keys are on the kitchen table.

Wait for me the bus stop.Show answer

Wait for me at the bus stop.

There's a picture the wall.Show answer

There's a picture on the wall.

I live a small town.Show answer

I live in a small town.

The milk is the fridge.Show answer

The milk is in the fridge.

My bag is the floor.Show answer

My bag is on the floor.

My dad is work until six.Show answer

My dad is at work until six.

The children are playing the garden.Show answer

The children are playing in the garden.

There's someone the door.Show answer

There's someone at the door.