In
Study these examples:
in a room, in a building, in a box, in a garden, in a town/city, in a country
* There's no one in the room/in the building/in the garden.
* What have you got in your hand/in your mouth?
* When we were in Italy, we spent a few days in Venice. (not 'at Venice')
* I have a friend who lives in a small village in the mountains.
* Look at those people swimming in the pool/in the sea/in the river.
At
Study these examples:
at the bus stop, at the door, at the window, at the top (of the page), at the bottom (of the page), at the end of the street
* Who is that man standing at the bus stop/at the door/at the window?
* Turn left at the traffic lights/at the church/at the roundabout.
* Write your name at the top/at the bottom of the page.
* Angela's house is the white one at the end of the street.
* When you leave the hotel, please leave your key at reception.
On
Study these examples:
on the ceiling, on the wall, on the door, on the table, on her nose, on the floor, on a page
* I sat on the floor/on the ground on the grass/on a chair/on the beach.
* There's a dirty mark on the wall on the ceiling/on your nose/on your shirt.
* Have you seen the notice on the notice board/on the door?
* You'll find details of TV programmes on page seven (of the newspaper).
Compare in and at:
* There were a lot of people in the shop. It was very crowded.
but Go along this road, then turn left at the shop. (somebody giving directions)
Compare in and on:
* There is some water in the bottle. but There is a label on the bottle.
Compare at and on:
* There is somebody at the door. Shall I go and see who it is?
but There is a notice on the door. It says 'Do not disturb'.
EXERCISES
122.1 Answer the questions about the pictures. Use in, at or on with the words below the pictures. (bottle), (traffic lights), (arm), (door), (Paris), (wall), (top/ bottom /stairs), (gate), (end/queue), (beach)
1. Where's the label? _On the bottle._
2. Where is the car waiting? ---.
3. Where's the fly? ---.
4. a. Where's the notice? ---.
b. Where's the key? ---.
5. Where's the Eiffel Tower?. ---.
6. Where are the shelves? ---.
7. a. Where's the woman standing? ---.
b. And the cat? ---.
8. a. Where's the man standing? ---.
b. Where's the bird? ---.
9. Where's Tom standing? ---.
10. Where are the children playing?. ---.
122.2 Complete the sentences. Use in, at or on + one of the following:
the window your coffee the mountains that tree my guitar the river the island the next garage
1. Look at those people swimming _in the river._
2. One of the strings --- is broken.
3. There's something wrong with the car. We'd better stop ---.
4. Would you like sugar ---?
5. The leaves --- are a beautiful colour.
6. Last year we had a wonderful skiing holiday ---.
7. There's nobody living --- It's uninhabited.
8. He spends most of the day sitting --- and looking outside.
122.3 Complete the sentences with in, at or on.
1. Write your name _at_ the top of the page.
2. I like that picture hanging --- the wall the kitchen.
3. There was an accident --- the crossroads this morning.
4. I wasn't sure whether I had come to the right office. There was no name --- the door.
5. --- the end of the street there is a path leading to the river.
6. You'll find the sports results --- the back page of the newspaper.
7. I wouldn't like an office job. I couldn't spend the whole day sitting --- a desk.
8. My brother lives --- a small village . the south-west of England.
9. The man the police are looking for has a scar --- his right cheek.
10. The headquarters of the company are --- Milan.
11. Nicola was wearing a silver ring --- her little finger.
122.1
2 At the traffic lights.
3 On his arm. or On the man's arm.
4 a. On the door.
b. In the door.
5 In Paris.
6 On the wall.
7 a. At the top of the stairs.
b. At the bottom (of the stairs).
8 a. At the gate.
b. On the gate.
9 At the end of the queue.
10 On the beach.
122.2
2 on my guitar
3 at the next garage
4 in your coffee
5 on that tree
6 in the mountains
7 on the island
8 at the window
122.3
2 on the wall in the kitchen
3 at 4 on
5 At 6 on
7 at
8 in ... in
9 on 10 in 11 on
