Page 217 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

A t , i n a n d o n : p r e p o s i t i o n s o f p l a c e
place
on:
in
and
At,
of
prepositions
event
use
place we think
point rather than an area,
and about an
of as
at to
talk about
a
a
We
We use at to talk about a place we think of as a point rather than an area, and about an event
a group of people:
where there
where there is is a group of people:
at
at New Street Station
the far end of the
room.
were waiting
arrived
We
at 7.30.
• ¢ I J arrived at New Street Station at 7.30. • We were waiting at the far end of the room.
the conference in Italy. • very few people at Joan's party.
We last met at at the conference in Italy.
There were very few people at Joan's party.
• ¢ We last met There were
a flat surface,
or
on to talk about a
use
on
position touching
of as
think
a
line
something we
We
We use on to talk about a position touching a flat surface, or on something we think of as a line
river:
as
or
a road
such
such as a road or river:
'on the wall/floor')
(Notice we also say
• ¢ Is that a spider on the ceiling} (Notice we also say ‘on the wall/floor')
Is that a spider on the ceiling}
on
the Swan
River.
a house
• ¢ She owns a house on the Swan River.
She owns
or
in to talk about
larger area,
a
a
position within
larger
use
something within
space:
a
We
We use in to talk about a position within a larger area, or something within a larger space:
) • ¢ There's been another big forest fire in California.
been another big forest fire in
California.
There's
* • She looked again in her bag and, to her relief, there were her keys.
qx e She looked again in her bag and, to her relief, there were her keys.
in, and
sentences:
at,
these
on
are
used
in
D Also study how at, in, and on are used in these sentences:
Also study how

My dream is to play at Wembley Stadium. a point
- seen as as a point
• « My dream is to play at Wembley Stadium. - seen
Didn't I see you in/at the pool yesterday? seen as within the pool itself, or as a
- either
• ¢ Didn't I see you in/at the pool yesterday? - either seen as within the pool itself, or as a
is a point in town
building which is a point in town
building which

lives in Perth. city
• * He lives in Perth. - within the city
He
- within the
stopped in/at Milan, Florence and use at when we see the cities as points
- we
We
• ¢ We stopped in/at Milan, Florence and - we use at when we see the cities as points
on our way to Rome. see them as
on a journey, and in when we see them as
Pisa on our way to Rome.
Pisa on a journey, and in when we
areas where we stayed for some time
enclosed areas where we stayed for some time
enclosed

They were a great success in/at
- we can use at when we use a place name
• ¢ They were a great success in/at - we can use at when we use a place name
or event - here,
Edinburgh. instead of an institution or event - here, the
of an institution
the
instead
Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Festival; in suggests the city
Edinburgh Festival; in suggests the city

He's in Los Angeles on business. or living there
- staying
• ¢ He's in Los Angeles on business. - staying or living there
at Manchester studying Linguistics.
student
University
at Manchester
• ¢ He's at Manchester studying Linguistics. - a a student at Manchester University
-
He's

at Marks and Spencer. name of a particular organisation
- the
• ¢ She works at Marks and Spencer. - the name of a particular organisation
She works
She works in a shoe shop. the kind of place
• ¢ She works in a shoe shop. - - the kind of place

I stopped at the shop on the way home. the
• ¢ I stopped at the shop on the way home. - we use at to talk about buildings such
- we use at to talk about buildings such as as the
I was in the bank when in came Sue. school,
dentist's, the supermarket, the bank,
• * Iwas in the bank when in came Sue. dentist's, the supermarket, the bank, school,
T work on a farm', but T etc.; we use in to emphasise that we mean
etc.; we use in to emphasise that we mean

(Notice we say: T work on a farm’, but T

(Notice we say:
work in a factory.')
building
work in a factory.')
inside the building
inside the
taxis
and
I read the paper in the taxi on the way.
using
for
travel
cars
- - for travel using taxis and cars
• ¢
J read the paper in the taxi on the way.
train;
for
using bus, coach,
travel
I'll probably go on the bus.
plane,
or
• ¢
I'll probably go on the bus.
- - for travel using bus, coach, plane, or train;
but we use in if we want to emphasise inside
but we use in if we want to emphasise inside
9 We usually use at before an address and in or on before the name of a road: or roads: street: fe
the bus, etc.
the bus, etc.

and
on
or
in
an address
before the name
at
before
use
of a road:
usually
@We
The church is in/on Park Road.
office
Lees Road.
at 28
* *
• ¢
The church is in/on Park Road.
• ¢
They've opened an an office at 28 Lees Road.
They've opened
use
sometimes
on instead
of in when we talk about long streets
we
However,
However, we sometimes use on instead of in when we talk about long streets or roads:
Pacific Highway.
is on the
The town is on the Pacific Highway.
• ¢
The town
of in when we
an institution
a
use
in that
street name to
use
at
refer to
instead
We can
We can use at instead of in when we use a street name to refer to an institution in that street:
Street today.
There was an important meeting of ministers at Downing Street today.
• ¢
There was an important meeting of ministers at Downing
say
to mean the
Street'
financial institution.
'on Wall
But notice that we
But notice that we say 'on Wall Street’ to mean the financial institution.
Compare:
Compare:
and
The lamp was in the corner of the room.
I'll meet you on the corner of the street,
• * The lamp was in the corner of the room.
• ¢
I'll meet you on the corner of the street.
and
At in, on: ime
At, in, on: time > [EEE