Prepositions of place show where a person or thing is. They connect one object to another object or place. We use them to describe position in a simple way.

In, on, and under show basic position. In means inside something. On means touching the top surface. Under means below something.

Word or Phrase	Definition
in	It shows that something is inside a space or container.
on	It shows that something is on the surface of something.
under	It shows that something is below another thing.

Next to and between show where one thing is in relation to other things. Next to means at the side of something. Between means in the middle of two things.

Word or Phrase	Definition
next to	It shows that something is at the side of another thing.
between	It shows that something is in the middle of two things.
near	It shows that something is not far from another thing.

Behind and in front of show position from the front or the back. Behind means at the back of something. In front of means before or ahead of something.

Word or Phrase	Definition
behind	It shows that something is at the back of another thing.
in front of	It shows that something is before another thing.
opposite	It shows that something is facing another thing from across a space.

We choose the preposition from the physical relationship between things. If something is inside, we use in. If it touches a top surface, we use on. If it is lower, beside, in the middle, at the back, or before another thing, we choose the matching preposition.

A place phrase has a preposition and a noun phrase. The preposition comes first, and the noun phrase comes after it. These phrases help describe where people and objects are located.

You can now understand and use common prepositions of place. You can describe where people and objects are with in, on, under, next to, between, behind, and in front of. You can also make simple place phrases with a preposition and a noun phrase.