Unit 107: in, at, on (places 2)

Fixed phrases: in bed, in hospital, in the sky, in a newspaper, in a car; at home, at work, at the station, at Jo's, at a party; on the first floor, on the way home, on a bus or train. For hotels and restaurants, in and at are both fine.

Go to the exercises

A in

phrase	example
in bed	"Where's Sam?" "He's in bed."
in hospital / in prison	My grandad is unwell. He's in hospital.
in a street	We live in a quiet street near the park.
in the sky	Look at the moon in the sky tonight.
in the world	What's the tallest building in the world?
in a newspaper / in a book	I read about the floods in the paper.
in a photo / in a picture	You look really happy in this photo.
in a car / in a taxi	Did you come here in your car?
in the middle (of ...)	There's a fountain in the middle of the square.

"Where's Sam?" "He's in bed."
You look really happy in this photo.
There's a fountain in the middle of the square.

B at

phrase	example
at home	Will you be at home tomorrow?
at work / at school	"Where's Sam?" "He's at work."
at university / at college	Priya is studying medicine at university.
at the station / at the airport	Shall I pick you up at the airport?
at Jo's (house) / at my aunt's / at the dentist's / at the barber's	"Where were you on Sunday?" "At my aunt's."
at a concert / at a party / at a match	There were loads of people at the match.

For buildings such as hotels and restaurants, in and at are often both possible.

I bumped into Leo at the dentist's.
We stayed at a lovely hotel. / We stayed in a lovely hotel.

C on

phrase	example
on a bus / on a train / on a plane / on a ship	Did you come here on the train?
on the ground floor / on the first floor etc.	The café is on the first floor. (not in the first floor)
on the way (to ...) / on the way home	I saw Ella on the way to college.

Did you come here on the train?
The café is on the first floor.
I saw Ella on the way home.

Exercises

107.1 Read each scene and answer the question. Use in, at or on + the words in brackets.

A woman lying in a hospital bed with flowers on the table beside her.
Where is she? (hospital)
In hospital.
In hospital.
Some passengers queuing at a check-in desk with their suitcases.
Where are they? (the airport)
A man asleep under a duvet, his alarm clock ringing.
Where is he? (bed)
Some passengers leaning on the rail of a ferry, far out at sea.
Where are they? (a ship)
A man pointing up at the stars at night.
Where are the stars? (the sky)
People dancing and holding drinks while music plays.
Where are they? (a party)
Callum sitting opposite a doctor, who is checking his blood pressure.
Where is Callum? (the doctor's)
A sign by the stairs: RESTAURANT, SECOND FLOOR.
Where is the restaurant? (the second floor)
A woman at her office desk, answering the phone.
Where is she? (work)
Two people in narrow seats by a small round window, high above the clouds.
Where are they? (a plane)
Two people in the back of a car with a TAXI sign on the roof.
Where are they? (a taxi)
A bride and groom surrounded by guests throwing confetti.
Where are they? (a wedding)

107.2 Put in in, at or on.

inaton

Priya is studying medicine at university.
Priya is studying medicine at university.
There was a huge rug the middle of the floor.
What's the highest mountain the world?
Were there many people the match on Saturday?
Will you be home on Thursday evening?
Who's the woman this picture? Do you recognise her?
Where are the kids? Are they school?
Mum is coming by coach. I'm going to meet her the coach station.
Jack is hospital. He's having his appendix out tomorrow.
How many chapters are there this book?
"Are you hungry after your journey?" "No, I had a sandwich the train."
Sorry I'm late. I got a puncture the way here.
"Is Mia here?" "No, she's her cousin's."
Don't believe everything you read the papers!
I cycled to work, but I came home the bus.

in, at, on (places 2)