This lesson introduces prepositional phrases: phrases that start with a preposition and end with a place.
- at home ('at' = preposition. 'home' = place)
- in the kitchen ('in' = preposition. 'the kitchen' = place)
Prepositional phrases are a kind of Subject Complement in the SVC sentence pattern:
- I am at home. ('I' = subject, 'am' = verb, 'at home' = complement)
- He is in the kitchen. ('He' = subject, 'is' = verb, 'in the kitchen' = complement)
Use the preposition 'in' to talk about people/things/animals that are inside an area or space:
The chefs are in their kitchen.
The marketing team is in the meeting room.
Also use 'in' for cities and countries:
- Janice is in New York.
- Paul is in China.
Use the preposition 'at' to talk about locations:
The children are at school.
The woman is at a hospital.
We also use at to talk about specific times: at noon, at 3 p.m., at sunrise, etc.
To understand the difference between "at" and "in," compare:
- The students are at school. They are in a classroom.
- The chefs are at the restaurant. They are in the kitchen.
Use the preposition 'on' to talk about people/things/animals that are supported by a surface:
The couple is on the bed.
The children are on the floor.
Use the preposition 'near' to talk about people/things/animals that are close to something:
A man is near the swimming pool.
