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Exercises for Prepositions of Place in English
17.10.2025
3 minutes to read
If you've ever tried to explain in English where your phone is (on the table or in the table?) or where your cat is (under the chair or behind it?), then you've come to the right place.
Prepositions of place in English aren't just words like "in," "on," and "under," but a whole mini-map that shows you where everything around you is.
This page offers five exercises that will help you finally figure out where "in" is, where "on," and where nothing is needed at all. There's no boring theory here—only real-life situations, vivid examples, and memorable explanations.
Prepositions of place in English aren't just words like "in," "on," and "under," but a whole mini-map that shows you where everything around you is.
This page offers five exercises that will help you finally figure out where "in" is, where "on," and where nothing is needed at all. There's no boring theory here—only real-life situations, vivid examples, and memorable explanations.
Table of contents
🎯 Objective:
Understand how to use the prepositions in, on, under, behind, between, next to, near, and in front of—not by memorizing, but by experiencing them in context.
This exercise will help you describe the world around you: where the cup is, where the cat is hiding, and where the car is parked.
💡 Example:
The cat is on the chair.
The keys are in the bag.
📘 Explanation:
in — inside something (in the box, in the room);
on — on the surface (on the table, on the wall);
under — under something (under the bed);
behind / in front of — behind / in front of something;
between / next to / near — between, next to, nearby.
✏️ Tasks:
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Understand how to use the prepositions in, on, under, behind, between, next to, near, and in front of—not by memorizing, but by experiencing them in context.
This exercise will help you describe the world around you: where the cup is, where the cat is hiding, and where the car is parked.
💡 Example:
The cat is on the chair.
The keys are in the bag.
📘 Explanation:
in — inside something (in the box, in the room);
on — on the surface (on the table, on the wall);
under — under something (under the bed);
behind / in front of — behind / in front of something;
between / next to / near — between, next to, nearby.
✏️ Tasks:
- The book is ___ the table.
- The shoes are ___ the bed.
- The cat is ___ the box.
- There’s a picture ___ the wall.
- The chair is ___ the window.
- The ball is ___ the shelf.
- The lamp is ___ the desk.
- The car is ___ the garage.
- The supermarket is ___ the bank.
- The sofa is ___ the TV.
- The keys are ___ my pocket.
- The park is ___ my house.
- The clock is ___ the wall.
- The dog is ___ the table.
- The children are ___ the playground.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Exercise 1: Insert the appropriate preposition of place
Exercise 2: Choose the correct option (prepositions of place quiz)
🎯 Objective:
To reinforce the understanding of the difference between similar prepositions—in, on, under, behind, between, next to, and near.
This mini-quiz helps you avoid confusion when the question "on the table or in the table?" comes to mind.
💡 Example:
The dog is under the table.
The school is next to the park.
📘 Explanation:
in — inside something;
on — on the surface;
under — underneath something;
between — between two objects;
next to — right next to;
near — nearby, but not necessarily right next to.
To reinforce the understanding of the difference between similar prepositions—in, on, under, behind, between, next to, and near.
This mini-quiz helps you avoid confusion when the question "on the table or in the table?" comes to mind.
💡 Example:
The dog is under the table.
The school is next to the park.
📘 Explanation:
in — inside something;
on — on the surface;
under — underneath something;
between — between two objects;
next to — right next to;
near — nearby, but not necessarily right next to.
Answer the questions by choosing one correct option.
Exercise 2
The cat is ___ the box.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
The picture is ___ the wall.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
The ball is ___ the table.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
The dog is sitting ___ the chair.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
The bag is ___ the desk and the chair.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
The park is ___ the supermarket.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
The boy is standing ___ the door.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
The lamp is ___ the ceiling.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
The shoes are ___ the bed.
Right
Right
Incorrect
The teacher is ___ the students.
Incorrect
Right
Incorrect
The picture is ___ the sofa.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
The keys are ___ the drawer.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
The tree is ___ the house.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
The coffee shop is ___ the library.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
The pen is ___ the book.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
Wow!
You have a great sense of where "in," "on," and "under" are. Now you can easily explain where the cup is, where the neighbor lives, and where the cat is hiding. Keep practicing with dialogues and movies—this will make your speech sound natural.
Excellent!
Sometimes you confuse similar pairs (at the corner / on the corner), but this is easy to fix. Repeat the exercises with real-life examples and try saying them out loud.
No problem.
Prepositions are one of the most tricky topics, even for those who've been studying English for years. Go back to the exercises and try them again with the hints. You're sure to get it!
Exercise 3: Insert prepositions into sentences
🎯 Objective:
Learn to select the correct preposition not from memory, but based on meaning. This exercise develops logic—you'll begin to understand where "in," "on," and "in front" actually are.
💡 Example:
The chair is behind the door.
The phone is on the table.
📘 Explanation:
Prepositions of place are like mini-navigations: they show the way.
on the screen — "on the screen" (surface),
in the photo — "inside" the image,
under pressure — figuratively meaning "under pressure."
✏️ Tasks:
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Learn to select the correct preposition not from memory, but based on meaning. This exercise develops logic—you'll begin to understand where "in," "on," and "in front" actually are.
💡 Example:
The chair is behind the door.
The phone is on the table.
📘 Explanation:
Prepositions of place are like mini-navigations: they show the way.
on the screen — "on the screen" (surface),
in the photo — "inside" the image,
under pressure — figuratively meaning "under pressure."
✏️ Tasks:
- The ball is ___ the box.
- The cat is ___ the table.
- There’s a painting ___ the wall.
- The dog is sleeping ___ the bed.
- The books are ___ the shelf.
- The car is parked ___ the garage.
- The park is ___ our house.
- The children are playing ___ the garden.
- The lamp is hanging ___ the ceiling.
- The teacher is standing ___ the board.
- The students are sitting ___ their desks.
- The clock is ___ the wall.
- The ball rolled ___ the chair.
- The bird is flying ___ the tree.
- The coffee cup is ___ the table.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Exercise 4: Fill in the Missing Prepositions
🎯 Objective:
To reinforce the use of prepositions of place in natural situations: how to say where a house, a person, a store, or a favorite mug is.
💡 Example:
The cat is under the table.
The picture is on the wall.
📘 Explanation:
Context is everything:
in the car, but on the bus;
at the station, but in the building.
Prepositions of place depend not only on logic but also on the speakers' habits—so it's important to see them in real-life examples.
✏️ Tasks:
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
To reinforce the use of prepositions of place in natural situations: how to say where a house, a person, a store, or a favorite mug is.
💡 Example:
The cat is under the table.
The picture is on the wall.
📘 Explanation:
Context is everything:
in the car, but on the bus;
at the station, but in the building.
Prepositions of place depend not only on logic but also on the speakers' habits—so it's important to see them in real-life examples.
✏️ Tasks:
- The computer is ___ the desk.
- The cat is hiding ___ the sofa.
- The map is ___ the wall.
- We met ___ the park.
- The keys are ___ my bag.
- The picture is hanging ___ the wall.
- There’s a table ___ the middle of the room.
- The mirror is ___ the door.
- The ball is ___ the chair and the table.
- The children are sitting ___ the carpet.
- The flowers are ___ the vase.
- The restaurant is ___ the corner.
- The bank is ___ the post office.
- There’s a shop ___ the end of the street.
- The dog is sleeping ___ the bed.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Exercise 5: Choose the correct answer
🎯 Objective:
To test your confidence in using prepositions of place and distinguishing subtle nuances—whether to say "at," "in," or "on."
💡 Example:
The pen is on the desk.
The shoes are under the bed.
📘 Explanation:
This test combines everything you've already covered. Take your time—think about where the object is and how a native speaker would say it.
To test your confidence in using prepositions of place and distinguishing subtle nuances—whether to say "at," "in," or "on."
💡 Example:
The pen is on the desk.
The shoes are under the bed.
📘 Explanation:
This test combines everything you've already covered. Take your time—think about where the object is and how a native speaker would say it.
Answer the questions by choosing one correct option.
Exercise 5
The cat is ___ the bed.
Right!
Incorrect
The picture is ___ the wall.
Right!
Incorrect
The bag is ___ the chair.
Right!
Incorrect
The school is ___ the park.
Right!
Incorrect
The boy is ___ the door.
Right!
Incorrect
The book is ___ the table.
Right!
Emma said she has done it.
The shop is ___ the corner.
Right!
Incorrect
The lamp is ___ the ceiling.
Incorrect
Right!
The ball is ___ the box.
Right
Right
The restaurant is ___ the cinema.
Incorrect
Right
The teacher is standing ___ the students.
Right!
Incorrect
The bus stop is ___ the corner.
Right!
Incorrect
The pen is ___ the book.
Right!
Incorrect
The tree is ___ the house.
Right!
Incorrect
The kids are playing ___ the garden.
Right!
Incorrect
Wow!
You have a great sense of where "in," "on," and "under" are. Now you can easily explain where the cup is, where the neighbor lives, and where the cat is hiding. Keep practicing with dialogues and movies—this will make your speech sound natural.
Excellent!
Sometimes you confuse similar pairs (at the corner / on the corner), but this is easy to fix. Repeat the exercises with real-life examples and try saying them out loud.
No problem.
Prepositions are one of the most tricky topics, even for those who've been studying English for years. Go back to the exercises and try them again with the hints. You're sure to get it!
Answers
- on
- under
- in
- on
- near
- on
- on
- in
- next to
- in front of
- in
- near
- on
- under
- in
- a
- a
- c
- a
- b
- c
- c
- c
- a
- b
- c
- a
- c
- c
- a
- in
- under
- on
- under
- on
- in
- near
- in
- from
- in front of
- at
- on
- under
- over
- on
- on
- under
- on
- in
- in
- on
- in
- behind
- between
- on
- in
- at
- next to
- at
- under
- a
- a
- a
- a
- a
- a
- a
- b
- b
- b
- a
- a
- a
- a
- a
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