B2
GRAMMAR
AT, IN AND ON TO EXPRESS LOCATION
AT
➔ When we think of a place as a point, not an area (including at home, at
school, at work, at university).
Example: The delivery man is at the back door//The cars were waiting at the
barrier.
➔ To talk about an event with a number of people.
Example: We’ll both be at the reception this evening//The students were at
the seminar about virtual reality.
IN
➔ When we think of a place as an area or space.
Example: The headquarters of the company are located in Silicon Valley//He
had his workshop in the basement of his house.
➔ For cars and taxis.
Example: He spent two hours in a taxi because of the rush hour//I keep up to
date with the news by listening to the radio in the car.
➔ Normally with in class, in hospital, in prison, in court.
Example: My partner is still in hospital after the accident//He defended his
client in court.
➔ With people or things which form lines
Example: She was prepared to wait in a queue for hours for a bargain.
➔ With the world.
Example: There’s a lot of competition between Dubai and Saudi Arabia to
construct the tallest building in the world.
ON
➔ To talk about a position in contact with a surface.
Example: They posted announcements on the walls of the building//The
frying pan is on the cooker.
➔ With border, coast, road to, the outskirts of, the edge of, the way to/from…
Example: On the border between France and Germany, there was a…
➔ With means of transport apart from cars and taxis.
Example: The wind demolished the sail on our yacht.
➔ For technology.
Example: He denies that he spends hours on the phone//I rediscovered a
friend from school on Facebook.
➔ With left and right.
Example: There was a sharp bend in the road on the left.
