Usages of 'in, on, at' as prepositions of place.
In English, the prepositions "in", "on" and "at" are very commonly used expressions to indicate location. However, the use of each depends on different situations.
In
Common Nouns Used with In
box, pocket, drawer, bag, bottle, vase, basket, sink, fridge, envelope, oven
world, continent, region, country, city, town, park, garden, street, mountain, valley
building, school, house, office, room, museum, library, cottage, factory, garage
water, ocean, sea, lake, river, sky, galaxy, sun, forest, tree, bed, suit, dress
book, dictionary, magazine, newspaper, novel, report, diary
painting, picture, photo
car, taxi
mirror
queue, line
Used to indicate being inside something closed or three-dimensional.
There is milk in the fridge.
The apples are in the basket.
There is an apple in the box.
The documents are in the drawer.
Used to indicate being within the boundaries of an area.
He was born in Paris.
We went hiking in the mountains.
The company operates in Europe.
The children are playing in the garden.
There are so many beautiful places in the world.
Used to indicate being inside a building.
She is in the building.
She is reading a book in the library.
The children are in the classroom.
Indicates that something is surrounded by something else.
He is swimming in the sea.
There are fish in the river.
There’s a bird in the tree.
She is relaxing in the sun.
We saw a deer in the forest.
She looks stunning in a red dress.
There’s a full moon in the sky tonight.
It is used to talk about the content of something written or visual.
I read it in the newspaper.
There is a mistake in the report.
The colors in the painting are vibrant.
Used to indicate being inside a vehicle.
She is waiting in the car.
On
Common Nouns Used with On
surface, screen, website, cover, page
wall, table, desk, couch, shelf, ceiling, roof
farm, island, street
ground, floor, grass
way, left, right
bus, train, plane, ship
horse, bicycle, bike
television, radio, phone, internet
map, list, menu, agenda
Indicates that something is on a surface.
The book is on the table.
He put the painting on the wall.
The keys are on the floor.
My office is on the second floor.
Used for public transport or non-passenger vehicles.
He is on the bus.
She forgot her bag on the train.
It is used with mass communication tools.
I saw it on TV.
She is on the phone.
At
Common Nouns Used with At
door, entrance, reception, intersection, desk, traffic light, bus stop
home, work, office, cinema, school, university, station, airport
end, front, side, top, bottom, back, corner
event, party, wedding, meeting, conference, concert
Used to indicate a specific point.
There's someone at the door.
Let’s meet at the intersection.
Used to indicate a specific location.
He isn't at home now.
We had lunch at the airport before our flight.
Used with expressions of direction.
He is at the corner of the street.
At the end of the road, there is a small park.
Used to indicate being in an activity.
She is at the party.
We met at the wedding.
Usage Notes
If 'in' is used with building names such as 'house, library, office, hotel, airport', it indicates being inside the building, and if it is used with 'at', it indicates the location of the building.
She's reading a book in the library (= inside the library).
She's reading a book at the library.
When talking about school, if 'at' is used, it refers to the location, and if 'in' is used, it refers to the educational process.
He is at school right now, but he’ll call you later.
She is still in school and hasn't graduated yet.
The word ‘street’ is more commonly used with ‘on’ in the US, and more commonly with ‘in’ in the UK. ‘At’ is used when referring to a specific address on a street or avenue.
I saw her playing in the street.
There are many cars on the street today.
Her office is at Fifth Street.
If the word 'bed' is used with 'in', it indicates that the person has a blanket, sheet, etc. on him, and if it is used with 'on', it indicates that he has nothing on him.
There is a pillow on the bed.
I was in bed all day because I was feeling sick.
If 'at' is used with the words 'table' and 'desk', it refers to the area around the table, and if 'on' is used, it refers to the area above the table.
He's sitting at the table.
There's an apple on the table.
If the word 'beach' is used with 'at', it refers to the location of the beach, and if it is used with 'on', it refers to being on the beach surface.
She is lying on the beach.
I’ll meet you at the beach.