Structure: Use of English: Prepositions of Place – Basic 6 English Lesson Note (Third Term)

What are Prepositions of Place?

Prepositions of place tell us WHERE something is located. They show the position of one thing in relation to another.

Common Prepositions of Place:

1. ON

• Used for surfaces: The book is on the table.
• Used for streets: I live on Broad Street.
• Used for floors: My classroom is on the second floor.

2. IN

• Used for enclosed spaces: The pencil is in the box.
• Used for cities/countries: She lives in Lagos.
• Used for buildings: We are in the library.

3. AT

• Used for specific locations: Meet me at the school gate.
• Used for addresses: He lives at 15 Okota Road.
• Used for institutions: She works at the hospital.

4. UNDER

• Below something: The cat is under the table.
• The ball rolled under the bed.

5. OVER/ABOVE

• Higher than: The plane flies over the city.
• The clock is above the door.

6. BETWEEN

• In the middle of two things: Sit between John and Mary.
• The shop is between the bank and the post office.

7. AMONG

• In the middle of many things: She stood among her friends.
• The teacher walked among the students.

8. BESIDE/NEXT TO

• Very close to: Sit beside me.
• The library is next to the laboratory.

Exercise D – Choose the Correct Preposition

Fill in the blanks with the right preposition:

1. The books are _______ the shelf. (on/in/at)
2. My house is _______ Victoria Island. (on/in/at)
3. The children are playing _______ the playground. (on/in/at)
4. The cat is hiding _______ the bed. (under/over/above)
5. Lagos is _______ Nigeria. (on/in/at)
6. The bird is flying _______ the trees. (under/over/between)

Exercise E – Describe Classroom Positions

Use prepositions to describe where these things are in your classroom:

1. The blackboard is _______ the front wall.
2. My desk is _______ the teacher’s table and the window.
3. The globe is _______ the cupboard.
4. Some books are _______ the floor.
5. The clock is _______ the door.
6. I sit _______ Kemi and Tunde.

Exercise F – Correct the Mistakes

Find and correct the preposition errors:

1. The school is at Victoria Street. → _______
2. Put the books in the table. → _______
3. The plane is flying under the clouds. → _______
4. She lives at Lagos State. → _______
5. The students are sitting among the classroom. → _______

Exercise G – Make Your Own Sentences

Write sentences using these prepositions:

1. between: _________________________________
2. among: _________________________________
3. above: _________________________________
4. beside: _________________________________
5. under: _________________________________