In
We say that somebody/something is:
in a line/in a row/in a queue/in a street
in a photograph/in a picture/(look at yourself) in a mirror
in the sky/in the world
in a book/in a newspaper/in a magazine/in a letter (but 'on a page')
* When I go to the cinema, I prefer to sit in the front row.
* I live in King Street. Sarah lives in Queen Street.
* Who is the woman in that photograph? (not 'on that photograph')
* Have you seen this article in the paper (=newspaper)?
* It was a lovely day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
On
We say that somebody/something is:
on the left/on the right
on the ground floor/on the first floor/on the second floor etc.
on a map/on the menu (in a restaurant)/on a list, on a farm
* In Britain we drive on the left. (or . on the left-hand side.)
* Our flat is on the second floor of the building.
* Here's a shopping list. Don't buy anything that's not on the list.
* Have you ever worked on a farm?
We say that a place is on a river/on a road/on the coast:
* London is on the river Thames.
* Portsmouth is on the south coast of England.
We say that a place is on the way to another place:
* We stopped at a small village on the way to London.
The corner
We say 'in the corner of a room', but 'at the corner (or on the corner) of a street':
* The television is in the corner of the room.
* There is a public telephone at/on the corner of the street.
The front and the back
We say in the front/in the back of a car:
* I was sitting in the back (of the car) when we crashed.
but at the front/at the back of a building/cinema/group of people etc.:
* The garden is at the back of the house.
* Let's sit at the front (of the cinema). (but 'in the front row')
* I was standing at the back, so I couldn't see very well.
Also on the front/on the back of a letter/piece of paper etc.:
* Write your name on the back of this envelope.
EXERCISES
123.1 Answer the questions about the pictures. Use in, at or on with the words below the pictures. (queue), (second floor), (corner), (corner), (front), (back/car), (mirror), (front), (back row), (left/right), (farm)
1. What's Sue doing?
She's standing _in a queue._
2. Sue lives in this building. Where's her flat exactly? ---.
3. Where is the woman standing? ---.
4. Where is the man standing? ---.
5. Where's the dog? ---.
6. What's the man doing? He's looking ---.
7. Ann is in this group of people. Where is she? ---.
8. Tom is at the cinema. Where is he sitting? ---.
9. a. Where's the post office? ---.
b. And the bank? ---.
10. Where does Kate work? ---.
123.2 Complete the sentences. Use in, at or on + one of the following:
the west coast the world the front row the right the back of the envelope the sky the back of the class my way to work
1. it was a lovely day. There wasn't a cloud _in the sky._
2. In most countries people drive ---.
3. What is the tallest building ---?
4. I usually buy a newspaper --- in the morning.
5. San Francisco is --- of the United States.
6. We went to the theatre last night. We had seats ---.
7. I couldn't hear the teacher very well. She spoke quietly and I was sitting ---.
8. When you send a letter, it is a good idea to write your name and address ---.
123.3 Complete the sentences with in, at or on.
1. It can be dangerous when children play --- the street.
2. If you walk to the end of the street, you'll see a small shop --- the corner.
3. Is Tom --- this photograph? I can't find him.
4. My office is the first floor. It's --- the left as you come out of the lift.
5. We normally use the front entrance but there's another entrance --- the back.
6. A: Is there anything interesting --- the paper today?
B: Well, there's an unusual photograph --- the back page.
7. I love to look up at the stars --- the sky at night.
8. (in a restaurant) 'Where shall we sit?' 'Over there, --- the corner.'
9. When I'm a passenger in a car, I prefer to sit --- the front.
10. It's a very small village. You probably won't find it --- your map.
11. Paris is --- the river Seine.
123.1
2 On the second floor.
3 On the corner. or At the corner.
4 In the corner.
5 In the back of the car.
6 in a mirror.
7 At the front.
8 In the back row.
9 a. On the left.
b. On the right.
10 On a farm.
123.2
2 on the right
3 in the world
4 on my way to work
5 on the west coast
6 in the front row
7 at the back of the class
8 on the back of the envelope
123.3
1 in 2 on or at
3 in 4 on ... on
5 at
6 in the paper .. on the back page
7 in 8 in 9 in
10 on 11 on
