Prepositions of Location

 

The most common prepositions of location are

in

outside (of)

on

between

at

beside

by

beyond

near

in front of

nearby

in back of

above

behind

below

next to

over

on top of

under

within

up

beneath

down

underneath

around

among

through

along

inside

against

 

These prepositions are most commonly followed by "the" and a noun. Both the speaker and the listener likely know which object is being referred to.

Examples,

The keys are on the table. (We both know which table.)
The post office is next to the bakery. (Not: next to bakery)

Occasionally, prepositions can be used with "a/an." This usually indicates that the speaker knows of the place, but the listener does not.

For example,

I live by a river. (You probably don't know which one.)
I live by the river. (You know the river I'm talking about.)


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