How to Use To, In, and At - Prepositions in English Grammar

In this lesson, we’re going to look at the English prepositions to, in and at. You can learn how to use the English prepositions to, in and at in spoken or written English. Continue working on your prepositions after you watch with one of our certified English teachers: bit.ly/ooe-teac....
A good way to understand and learn the difference between English prepositions is to look at them in groups. That way you can compare and contrast them. We’re going to look at to, in and at together because they can be used to talk about place.
See the full version of this free English lesson here:
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Contents:
1. How to Use To 1:17
2. How to Use In 5:01
3. How to Use At 7:54
4. What's the Difference Between To, In and At? 11:53
In this lesson, you'll learn how to:
- Use 'to' when you want to talk about movement.
- Correctly use 'in' to explain being surrounded by something.
- Find ways to use 'at' when you want to describe the opposite of movement.
- Recognize differences between 'to', 'in', and 'at'.
- Understand grammar exceptions to these rules.
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[@japonescomsayuri-san7319]

Phrases that I could build after this class. Thank you!! Preposition 'TO' :after verbs and nouns that express movements. -We walked to the mall -She took the letter to you -We scheduled a trip to Latin America. Preposition 'IN': To places that surround us -Corals live in the oceans. -We woke up in the camp. When At or In: -Where did you buy the ice cream? We bought AT the park. ('At' marks the purpose) -What did you guys do this weekend? We had fun IN the park, there were lots of toys. (The action took place inside the park: IN) Preposition 'AT': Specific places or events I'll wait at the bus stop on the corner of the bakery. We met at the meeting at 9 am.

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[@lazymano11]

Well elaborated.

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[@cherryannvelarde7952]

You really know how to teach in an easiest way, easy for the students to understand.Great job. Thanks!!

[@ralphlouis2705]

This lesson gave me confidence in using preposition ,whilst I progress gradually.

[@shabanmahmoud1481]

You rock! You are the most beautiful and efficient teacher I have ever seen . Go on .

[@lindabardhi1552]

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[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching and glad it's useful for you, Chung!

[@vikkikumargupta3872]

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[@Ayesha_._Ansari]

Its a great video .... I understand very well about it and its very clear when to use them💯💯

[@71riyadh]

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[@EnglishwithMrSam]

Thank you very much!

[@m.elangovan.m.elangovan.7482]

Thank you sister 😊🙏.

[@ladylaurish2640]

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[@shahg6901]

there are so many preposition please make more videos on preposition .I appreciate your lectures are so good.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the suggestion! We will try to do that in the future.

[@shahg6901]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 thanks

[@erciandrade3514]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 at the bank focus the activity we do there, right? In the bank inside the bank.

[@silviaveronicaarapaacruta1903]

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[@zeynebdridi321]

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[@manishamahato8903]

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[@katiakarakaidou8303]

Thank you so much for the informative video. It explains a lot to us. Thanks for your time and effort. You are very good !

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you enjoyed it, Katia! Thanks for the support.

[@morhafasfoor2108]

Thanks

[@sitharasamindini4853]

Thank you very much!💎

[@thartharthar7586]

great teaching great way to learn

[@srimathivenkatraman5830]

This lesson helpful to us like me who are all confused with prepositions thank you

[@sunflowerream]

Very useful lesson ... Thank you 🏵️

[@lmattanthony]

Thanks for the lesson !

[@muntazur10]

Very Informative.

[@FallenAngelTeam]

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[@williamrivers5903]

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[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

That's great, Wilian! Good luck and glad we could help.

[@raoufallani5142]

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[@NuttyNuttaporn]

Thank you so much

[@mahmoudnaser7556]

good listen and clear explantation. Thanks for your efforts Oxford Online English.

[@marioportillo8746]

Thank you for this fairly informative lesson!. Still, I've got two questions: 1. In the example with "to": "They sent us an invitation to their housewarming party", why "invitation" is consider to be a movement noun? Is it because it was "sent" or because an invitation implies that you will move to another place? In any case, if the next words (their housewarming party) do not convey where the invitation was sent (as in "on holiday to Egypt") but what the invitation was for, why don't we say "... an invitation for their housewarming party? 2.Are there any rules for adjectives? For example, "I'm new to english". Why is it with "to", why not: I'm new at english"? (or in english). I will be grateful if you answer me these questions, I haven't been able to find them anywhere else.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Good questions, Mario! Let me try to answer: 1. 'Invitation' implies movement because of your second idea; you have to move to another place. You could say 'invitation for their party', but it's more colloquial and I suspect some people would consider it incorrect. I don't think anyone would notice, though. 2. Re. rules for adjectives, not really. There are patterns (e.g. 'good at...', 'bad at...', 'great at...' etc.), but basically you need to memorise them. It's easier to learn them in complete, meaningful phrases.

[@marioportillo8746]

Oxford Online English. Oh, I see... Thank you for your answer! It really helped me a lot.

[@SaeedAhmed-re4ho]

I want to know the rest of the answers of Mario Portillo's questions , please @@Oxfordonlineenglish1

[@leontang___]

Hello! Could I ask a question? There is a sentence: Max is thinking about starting a business. I am confusing about the analysis of this sentence. Are “thinking about” as a phrasal verb and “starting a business”(gerund phrases) as the object of this phrasal verb, or are “think” as a verb and “about starting a business”(prepositional phrases) as the adverbial phrase to modify the verb “think”? and can a prepositional phrase work as a direct object of verbs, subject, or else nominal? Thanks a lot!

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi there. 'He is thinking' represents the present continuous and 'about' is followed by gerund verb forms and nouns. For example: 'She's worried about getting sick', or, 'She's worried about the situation'. Hope this helps you!

[@leontang___]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 Okay, Thanks!

[@darodewkeea5321]

Hello you video speak correct english thak you

[@darodewkeea5321]

Hello good morning my intarrest you english video thak you

[@albertoalbertoni9529]

Thanks!

[@johnnytran7440]

thank for your useful video !

[@abdifandhaalt.onlinelangua4604]

Thank you for teaching

[@sarahlaura1552]

Thanks for teaching me how to use all of those prepositions. Although I'm quite wondering if the prepositions "by" and "to" are interchangeable and mean the same thing in the following context, The context : 1. I helped you to some degree 2. I helped you by some degree Are by and to in that context interchangeable and do they mean the same thing ? I really appreciate you , thank you so so so much 🙏

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Sarah. Thanks for watching and sharing your question! In this situation, we want to use 'to.' For example, 'to some extent,' 'to some degree' and so on. 'By' and 'to' are not interchangeable in this situation. Hope this helps you!

[@nanananabebebey7000]

bibiandyoyo

[@ericpetrescu1248]

greatful video with preposition

[@sayedhadialmusawi4636]

for me, the lesson just to the point, well organized, great teaching knowledge 👌

[@mohammadabdallah1706]

Thumbs up teacher

[@darodewkeea5321]

Hello welcome thak youy you best video

[@madawiismelbob2741]

hello thanks a lot i am begging and really these more useful

[@kamalkarki483]

very very good video

[@s07mh]

thank you very helpful , especially the confusion between At and In , .....

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad it was helpful for you, Sameh!

[@shalmar14]

Hi! A wonderful lesson! I would like to ask about the preposition *"without"* Are these sentences interchangeable below ? 1. I took the money without anyone being aware of it 2. I took the money without anyone aware of it Are both of the sentences correct ? And are both of the sentences correct according to English exams ? Thank you so much!

[@wediaforkiaforki3928]

thanks for the video

[@elenaferrer7543]

Great lesson 👌, thanks for sharing 😊

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment, Silvia!

[@mirhafiz5923]

Thanks a lot for the lesson on prepositions. It was ful of learning But there is bit confusion for which i would like to ask you for clarity. I work in a NGO. There are different projects running in different target communities. And i have to visit project sites for monitoring. So if someone asks me through phone or social media where i am so what will be my response " i am in the field" or "i am at the field" or i am on the field"?? Please respond

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Mir, here you would say, 'I'm at the field,' if you're giving your location.

[@ildikomolnar8437]

I love this lesson . thank you

[@shalmar578]

Hi, thank you so much for the lesson, i have a question to ask 😊, what does "to some degree" mean ? Does it literally mean "reach a particular degree" ? Like from level 1 to level 3. "To" in "to some degree" means untill, doesn't it ? And what's the most common use of it ? Thank you a lot ! 💟

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

To some degree = to some extent, i.e. not completely. "He did solve the problem, at least to some degree." = he solved it partly but not completely

[@dm_198]

using at we are indicating a current point in the space

[@daviddhar8096]

To + the + noun vs to + noun

[@rainintripoli5196]

hi 😊whould you answer my question? "in every side was silence. pressing upon them in tangible presence. " pressing? is it a participal adj or a gerund?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

It's a continuous verb here, or a gerund.

[@violawang9386]

love it！thanks for your effort！

[@andreagiraldomdphd.8376]

Dear Prof Niamh, Might I trouble you for a question ? Which is the difference between "AT the top of", "ON the top of " and "ON top of ". Many thanks. I pay my respects to you. Andrea

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Andrea, when you use 'the top of' you can use 'on' and 'at', as they have the same meaning.

[@karraryoussif9734]

Thanks for every thing but what about on preposition

[@israelhurtado8260]

Why do you use in for the example sentence? He is standing in the corner.

[@reetkaur8634]

What to use for office noun wheather " at office " or " in office ".

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hello Reet, good question. If you're explaining your general location, use 'at', for example 'I'm at home, at work, at the office, etc'. If someone in your office building wants to know which room you are in, you use 'in', 'I'm in my office'.

[@supriyabhat6309]

Prepositions show a relationship between two words

[@dm_198]

Am I right if we can use a qualifying question "to be there" when we use "at" and "to be in" when we use "in"?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Daniyar, yes you are correct with these!

[@yesudastare7832]

Its of great help to me..... Please tell me which of the following way is correct and why... 1)Walked off in anger OR walked of with anger??.. 2)they pleaded with me or they pleaded to me??. 3)I spoke with them... I spoke to them..??.. I learned that "with" can be used to associate people then why is "to" used ...what difference do they make? .

[@yesudastare7832]

Walked off in anger or walked off with anger(I have learned that "with" is used to describe the manner in which a particular thing is done or happened )so why use"in" instead of with....???

[@2023noone]

@15:07 why this sentence suggests that mike was not in the apartment? If someone says: she was in his boyfriend's apartment last night. does it suggest that her bf was not present in his house when she was there? And this one: She was at this boyfriend's apartment last night. does it imply that both the girl and the boy were there in the apartment?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi there. The key is when we say something like: "We were in Mike's house," that means that I was inside of the house belonging to Mike with someone else. It doesn't imply that Mike was there or why we were there. When we say something like: "We were at Mike's house," that implies that Mike and I were there, and maybe others. We were at that location for a certain reason, perhaps to visit Mike. It can be a tricky concept. Hope this helps you!

[@2023noone]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 thanks for your elaborate reply. It might be tricky but fascinating at the same time. Please keep enlightening us with such kind of things. I appreciate your effort in doing this.

[@santoshirao8183]

ITS REALLY CONFUSING GIVE SOME MORE TIPS

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Santoshi, we have a lot of good videos for more preposition and grammar practice. www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/?s=grammar

[@AdityaSingh-ci5xn]

Oxford Online English may I know how to use would have to and would have had to

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Aditya, we have a few lessons that might be helpful for you. This lesson is about using 'would': www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/would-modal-verbs and this lesson can help you with conditionals and your second form 'would have had to': www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/video-lesson-conditionals

[@erciandrade3514]

It's very simples. To when you go or take something from a place to another. You move from one place to another one. Stay be livre stand. You in a place or stopped there. At focus on the activity you do at the place, in focus in the space.

[@alisasaba]

Plz Miss advice me how can I learn preposition ?what is best method of learning?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Saba, thanks for watching. A helpful method is to learn them in sections. For example, learn about prepositions of time, and after you feel comfortable with that you can begin to learn about prepositions of place, and so on.

[@alisasaba]

Thank you so much miss

[@EjazKhan-it3ro]

mam that's amazing!!

[@Ahmed-Iraq89]

Hello which choice is right We were ..........the restaurant, having a meal. (in /at)

[@tahirbalch1483]

very respectfully i've something to ask. in first example of 'In' you said 'she is in the library' because that place surrounds somebody and in the next example of 'At' you said that somebody is at cinema although that place surrounds yet you just used 'At'.so, my point needs some adequate answer to clear that can we use "either somebody is at library or in the cinema???

[@tahirbalch1483]

i used 'At' sepcifically with the word library because the purpose is to go to libraray is study.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Tahir, it depends on what you are trying to communicate. We use 'at' for the idea of a specific location, and 'in' when you want to emphasize that they are inside of something like a building. For example, if a friend asks where you are, you can say 'I'm at the cinema' because that is your location. If you want to explain something about the specific area inside, you could say something like, 'It's cold in the cinema today'. Hopefully this helps!

[@tahirbalch1483]

well, i have saved in my mental blocks 😉 👍 answer is good enough to kick the difficulty out .

[@tahirbalch1483]

how can i approach you to kick some more difficulties out?

[@rehanaakter2013]

When we use die in expressing something

[@gokottanorma5620]

Thank you so much 🌌🌌🌌

[@karljo8064]

The lesson says we don't use "to" before here or there, but why do we also say "It's hot in here."

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Karl, 'here' refers to 'this location'. Therefore, when you are within a location (a restaurant, house, etc.) you will use 'in here'. Hope this helps you!

[@serhatbudak1580]

Subtitle doesn't show for mobile phone but show's for pc.Why?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Serhat, I'm not sure why that is the case. You don't see a 'CC" icon?

[@muhammadzeb77]

Want to know uses of " prepositions of, from, by, with.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Muhammad. We have other lessons on prepositions to help you: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/prepositions-of-place, www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/prepositions-of-movement.

[@muhammadzeb77]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 i watched both of these. It really helped me but still I need to know prepositions like " of, by, with, from, onto. I hope I may get some more videos related my questions. Regards and take care.

[@arpitshukla5186]

Can we use " to my home" ? There should be something before home if we are using "to" before it... Am I right?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Arpit, we would say something like: 'I'm going home,' or, 'I'm going to my house' but it's not common to say 'I'm going to my home'. Hope this helps you!

[@arpitshukla5186]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 thank you 🙏🌹

[@brilliantenglishwithmahmou7081]

amazing content

[@armankozhamkulov1922]

Hi Niece, At 1.17 you have an error in subtitles, writing Through an airport instead of To an airport. Sorry it's autogenerated subtitles.

[@earth1370]

Awsome

[@nirmalchamara5126]

is this sentence correct we are gave the advices for the farmers

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Nirmal, you can give advice 'to' someone.

[@omarwarda3529]

But labryary IS a place WE go to to leaen and study so why WE dont use at

[@nuzhatnoreen8179]

Your should have included ON too!

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the suggestion, Nuzhat! Keep watching our new videos, as we might have one including 'on' in the future!

[@saibaba1334]

Wonderful✨😍✨😍✨😍✨😍✨😍✨😍✨😍

[@arpana761]

I am working as a security guard in ABC company. I am working as a security guard at ABC company. I have 4 years of experience as a security guard at ABC hotel. I have 4 years of experience as a security guard at the ABC hotel. I have 4 years of experience as a security guard in the / in ABC hotel. please let me know the error

[@ArshdeepSingh-ht2hi]

How can we say this I play football at playground or I play football in playground

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Arshdeep, if the playground is enclosed with a fence or something else to be 'inside', you would use 'in the playground'. If it's just a piece of land outside use 'at the playground'.

[@azizsarwari1014]

Hello, what about things for example Bus, train and car etc. can I say I'm in the bus?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Aziz, usually we use 'on' for transportation, 'I'm on the bus,' or, 'I'm on the train'.

[@letslearn4039]

To as a preposition is not clear even now to me.

[@capakistan419]

They travelled _in__ Bus ? or by ?I so confuse

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Najeeb, whenever you use a method of transportation explaining how you get somewhere, use 'by'. 'They traveled by bus'.

[@katiakarakaidou8303]

So , do we always use "at" for events? Is the sentence "I participated in an event related to food" wrong ?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Katia, 'participate in' + something is a separate phrase. If you're simply describing your location, use 'at'. For example, 'I was at an event. I participated in the race'.

[@katiakarakaidou8303]

Oxford Online English thank you. I really appreciate the response.

[@user-xe5lr6te7s]

Can someone tell me which is correct? I am some how confused. 1. You need to be checked by the police. So go at the police here. 2. You need to be checked by the police. So go to the police here.

[@ofirshukrun449]

Playback speed at 1.25X and I'm happy.

[@sabaakram1368]

If I am going to home is wrong Then I am going to school I am going to hospital All these sentences wrong?? Guide me please

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Good question, Saba. 'Go home' is correct, and is a unique situation. 'Go to school,' 'go to hospital,' etc. are correct. Hope this helps you!

[@noorjimale684]

You are gorgeous

[@hoangviet2563]

[@Childrensmathes]

Madam,can I say like this? I went to his home last night .Please explain.p Siva Rao,India.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Yes, you can Siva. Thanks for watching!

[@lourdesogas2305]

Lo pueden traducir en español😭 siento que lo explica tan bien Estoy sufriendo con esto Jsjsj

[@ofirshukrun449]

Why can't I say "Are you still at bed?"

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Ofir, we use 'in' to represent being surrounded within the bed - the bed sheets, covers, etc. The correct phrase is: 'Are you still in bed?'

[@ofirshukrun449]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 thanks!

[@MM-ss8gg]

she invited me [. ] dinner.wat to use here?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi there, use 'to' in this situation. It's a movement of you going from where you are to the location of dinner.

[@safaribadov2346]

Thanks