English · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Place and movement prepositions
Distinguish at, in, on, to, into, from, and by through the relationship expressed.
Understand the choice
English place prepositions express geometry and convention. A learner needs the whole phrase: at home, in a city, on a bus, by the door.
Core rule: At marks a point/activity location, in an area/container, on a surface/public transport; to a destination, into movement inside, from origin, by proximity/means.
Notice it in context
We are at the station, and then we go into the train.
Estamos en la estación y luego entramos en el tren.
At station presents point; into presents movement from outside to inside.
She lives in Italy but works at a bank by the river.
Italy contains her home; the bank is her workplace beside the river.
In, at, and by express country, activity point, and proximity.
He gets on the bus and comes from the airport.
He boards public transport after traveling from the airport.
On is conventional transport position; from marks origin.
What to remember
- Say in a car/taxi but on a bus/train/plane.
- Arrive in a city/country; arrive at a smaller point/building.
Common trap: Do not translate one native preposition into English everywhere.