Prepositions Of Place & Precise Prepositional Phrases

English Like A Native

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- Okay, where are you?

How do I get there?

When describing the location of something,

or giving directions,

you will need to use the correct preposition.

Using the wrong preposition

can change the meaning completely.

For example, this young lady is by the sea.

This young lady is on the sea.

Oh no, this young lady is in the sea.

Which means understand?

So let's quickly start with at, in, by, and on.

At is used to describe a specific point.

Often used with words like home, or work,

or a place of study like school, college, university.

For example, I'm at home.

They're at school.

It's at the back gate.

In is used when something is within an enclosed space.

We're in the building.

I'm in the city.

You're in the mountains.

It's in the forest.

In is also used when you are describing which part

of the country you are in.

For example, I'm in the North.

We're in south Patagonia.

He works in the Southeast.

By means close to or next to something.

For example, I love being by the sea.

The dog is by the river.

The hotel is by our favorite restaurant.

On is used when talking about a surface,

or when something can be summited or mounted.

For example, Anna is on the mountain.

Anna's on the river.

Anna's on the coast.

Anna's on an island all by herself.

Also note, if something is close to the coast

then we would often use the phrase off the coast.

For example, I saw a small island just off the coast.

So armed with those few prepositions

you should basically be able to describe

where a location is situated.

My friend lives at home with his mum in north London,

right by a tube station.

He used to live on the Isle of Dogs by the river Thames.

Now, if you're giving or receiving directions

you will need to know your compass points,

so let's quickly go over them.

Make sure with that TH on north and south,

you are putting your tongue between your teeth.

I live in the Southeast of England.

Where do you live?

Let me know in the comments down below.

So, now let's look at some more precise

prepositional phrases to help you with directions.

Directly opposite.

I might say that my office is directly opposite your office.

This means that they are facing each other,

probably across the road from one another.

Opposite means on the other side of an area.

For example, a room.

They are on the furthest points of the room

from one another, or on opposite sides of the room.

If you are on one side and someone else is on the other,

then you are on opposite sides of the road.

Or you can say it's on the opposite side of the city.

Perhaps you are in south London

and what you want is in north London.

It's a long way to go,

it's on the opposite side of the city.

You can even say on the opposite side of the world.

So for me, I think Australia is on the opposite side

You might say something is diagonally opposite.

This means it's opposite, it's across the space,

but it's on an angle.

Halfway between.

The shop is halfway between my home and the office.

This means that the shop is at an equal distance

from my home and my office.

It's right in the middle.

Just to the left of or just to the right of.

The park entrance is just to the left of the library.

This means that the entrance to the park

is close to the library to the left.

I guess you could say that the park entrance

is right next to the library, meaning directly beside it.

When you come out of the train station

the bank will be right in front of you.

This means that the bank will be ahead of you.

Now, I would like you to practice using these prepositions

and phrases, so please, write in the comment section

down below where you live, the area in which you live,

and give people some indication

of how to find a place of public interest.

A theater, or a cinema perhaps.

Here is my example.

Despite growing up in the Northwest of England,

I now live on the opposite side of the country

in the Southeast.

My town is very close to central London.

There are many attractions to visit in the city,

like the London Eye, for example.

Situated by the River Thames, diagonally opposite Big Ben,

it offers some wonderful views over London.

So there you go.

Prepositions of place for intermediate English learners.

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