Prepositions of Place (AT / IN / ON) – English Grammar Exercises for A1
You are walking through the school hallway. You see some important notices about a class cancellation and a power outage. You are texting your class group chat to report what you just saw.
Choose the correct preposition (A, B, or C) to complete the sentences.
1 Guys, I just saw a new paper ______ the wall outside our classroom.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
2 There is an urgent message pinned ______ the main notice board.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
3 Someone taped a “Class Canceled” sign ______ the front door of Room 102
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
4 The teacher’s new phone number is written ______ the whiteboard.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
5 Look at the warning poster ______ the glass window!
(A) on
(B) at
(C) in
6 I am standing ______ the main hallway right now, and it is very dark.
(A) on
(B) at
(C) in
7 There is a “Power Outage” alert showing ______ the digital screen downstairs.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
8 You can ask for more information ______ the reception desk.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
9 The notice says there will be no electricity ______ the whole building today.
(A) at
(B) on
(C) in
10 I found this printed schedule ______ the left side of the bulletin board.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
11 I forgot my reading glasses ______ home, so I can’t read the small text clearly.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
12 Don’t go upstairs. The library ______ the second floor is closed.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
13 Everyone is waiting ______ the school entrance to hear the news.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
14 I took a flyer. The details about the power outage are printed ______ this paper.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
15 The principal’s signature is located right ______ the bottom of the notice.
(A) on
(B) at
(C) in
16 There is also a small sticky note hidden ______ the corner of the notice board.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
17 It is so dark that they had to put emergency lights ______ the ceiling.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
18 Wait, there is more information written ______ the back of the announcement.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
19 Don’t stand ______ the dark corridor; come outside to the yard.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
20 I will take a picture of the notice and keep it ______ my phone for you all.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) on
Explanation: A wall is a vertical, flat surface. Whenever something is attached to a surface, we use “on”. (B) is a common mistake because beginners sometimes translate “in” as a general location or think of the wall as a space. (A) is grammatically incorrect for surfaces.
2 (A) on
Explanation: A notice board is a flat surface. You pin things “on” it. (B) is a common mistake (students often say “in the board” translating from their native language). (C) is a structural error.
3 (B) on
Explanation: A door acts as a flat surface when you stick a sign to it. (A) is a common mistake (meaning inside the solid wood of the door). (C) is a basic error in this context.
4 (C) on
Explanation: Writing is placed on the flat surface of a whiteboard. (B) is a common mistake because students often think words are “inside” the board. (A) is structurally incorrect.
5 (A) on
Explanation: A window is a flat glass surface. A poster sticks “on” it. (C) is a common mistake. (B) is incorrect.
6 (C) in
Explanation: A hallway is an enclosed 3D space with walls, a floor, and a ceiling. You stand “in” it. (A) is a common mistake because students think of walking “on” the floor, but the hallway itself is a space. (B) is incorrect.
7 (B) on
Explanation: For digital screens, monitors, and displays, we always use “on”. (A) is a common mistake (students think the text is “inside” the computer). (C) is a grammar error.
8 (A) at
Explanation: A reception desk is a specific point of service or a meeting point. (B) is a common mistake (which would mean inside the wooden drawers of the desk). (C) is incorrect.
9 (C) in
Explanation: A building is a large, enclosed 3D structure. We use “in a building”. (B) is a common mistake (meaning on the roof). (A) is incorrect when referring to the interior volume of the building.
10 (A) on
Explanation: “The left side” refers to a directional area on a flat surface (the board), so it takes “on”. (B) and (C) are common grammatical errors.
11 (B) at
Explanation: “At home” is a fixed exception in English grammar. (A) is a common mistake because students think of the house as a 3D container (“in home”). (C) is incorrect.
12 (A) on
Explanation: Building floors are stacked horizontal surfaces. We say “on the first floor,” “on the second floor.” (B) is a common mistake. (C) is structurally wrong.
13 (C) at
Explanation: The entrance is a specific map coordinate or meeting point. (A) is a common mistake because students confuse waiting near the doors with being inside the building. (B) is a grammar error.
14 (A) on
Explanation: A flyer or a piece of paper is a flat surface. Text is printed “on” the paper. (B) is a common mistake (native language interference). (C) is wrong.
15 (B) at
Explanation: “At the bottom of” is a fixed phrase referring to a specific point on the page. (C) is a common mistake because students think of the page as a 3D space. (A) is incorrect when paired with “the bottom”.
16 (B) in
Explanation: For the inside corner of a room or a bounded area like a notice board, we use “in the corner”. (A) is a common mistake (used for outside street corners). (C) is a structural error.
17 (C) on
Explanation: A ceiling is the flat horizontal surface above you. Objects are attached “on” the ceiling. (A) is a common mistake because students assume it’s part of the room’s 3D space. (B) is wrong.
18 (C) on
Explanation: The back of a paper is still a flat surface. We write “on the back”. (B) is a common mistake. (A) is grammatically incorrect here.
19 (A) in
Explanation: Similar to a hallway, a corridor is an enclosed tunnel-like space. We stand “in” a corridor. (B) is a common mistake. (C) is wrong.
20 (C) on
Explanation: For electronic devices and digital files viewed on a screen, we use “on my phone.” (A) is a common mistake (translating directly from “trong điện thoại”). (B) is a basic preposition error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- ON (Surfaces & Screens): Use “on” whenever you talk about a flat vertical or horizontal surface. This is very important for notices! You see a paper on the wall, on the board, on the door, on the window, on the ceiling. Also use “on” for digital screens (on the phone, on the monitor).
- IN (Enclosed Spaces): Use “in” for 3D areas that have boundaries like walls or borders. You stand in the hallway, in the corridor, in the building, or in the corner of a board.
- AT (Specific Points): Use “at” for exact locations, meeting points, or specific parts of a page. You look for info at the reception desk, at the entrance, or at the bottom of the page. Remember the exception: at home.