A1Prepositions

Position: next to, under, between, behind...

Use position prepositions to explain where one person or thing is in relation to another.

Overview

What this grammar does

Use position prepositions to explain where one person or thing is in relation to another.

Form and rules

How it works

Next to/beside means at the side of something. Near means a short distance away, not necessarily directly beside it.

Between means in the middle of two people or things. Among is used for a group, but between is the key A1 form.

Under means lower than something. Above means higher than without necessarily touching it; over can also mean above.

In front of means before the front side; behind means at the back.

Opposite means facing or directly across from something, often across a street.

A closer look

Meaning and use

Position prepositions show where one thing is relative to another: next to, between, behind, in front of, under, over, above, below, and opposite.

Between normally places something in the middle of two reference points. In front of and behind describe front-back position; under and below describe lower position with slightly different meanings.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

The bank is next to the hotel.

The cat is under the chair.

The pharmacy is between the café and the bank.

The car is in front of the house.

Our school is opposite the park.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

The bank is between the hotel.

The bank is next to the hotel.

Between normally needs two reference points.

The car is front of the house.

The car is in front of the house.

The complete preposition is in front of.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.

Previous topicAt, in, on: place Next topic Questions: word order and question words