Let me tell you a quick story. Prepositions are a lot like cats. You think you know where they’ll go, but suddenly, they’re sitting in the weirdest places. One minute, the cat’s on the couch; the next minute, it’s in the box, or worse, into the cupboard where you keep the snacks. Just like cats, prepositions love doing their own thing. They don’t always follow the rules.
Sounds tricky, right? But don’t worry—I’m here to help you tame these sneaky little words.
What Are Prepositions?
Prepositions are short words that show relationships between things, usually in time, place, or direction. Common ones include “in,” “on,” and “at.” While they seem simple, prepositions can be tricky for non-native speakers because their usage doesn’t always follow logic.
Using “In”
“In” is like being inside something.
- Place: “I live in a city.” (You are surrounded by the city, like being in a box.)
- Time: “The meeting will start in 5 minutes.” (You’re inside that 5-minute time frame.)
- Condition: “She’s in trouble.” (She’s stuck inside a difficult situation.)
Using “On”
“On” is about being on top of something, like a cat sitting on your keyboard while you try to work.
- Place: “The book is on the table.” (The book is resting on the surface of the table.)
- Time: “The concert is on Friday.” (Friday is like a flat surface, and the event is on top of it.)
- Topic: “He gave a talk on climate change.” (Climate change is the subject.)
“In” or “On”?
Sometimes, choosing between “in” and “on” feels like deciding where the cat should sit.
- We live on Earth (we’re on the planet’s surface), but we live in a city (because the city surrounds us).
- A cat can sit in a box (surrounded by the box’s sides) or on a table (resting on top of the surface).
“In” vs. “Into”
“In” means something is already in place, while “into” shows movement towards a place.
- “The cat jumped into the box.” (It moved from the floor into the box.)
- “The cat is in the box.” (It’s already settled in its cozy space.)
Start Your Preposition Practice Today!
English prepositions can be a bit like herding cats—they’re unpredictable. But with practice, you’ll soon get the hang of them. Try making your own sentences using “in,” “on,” and “into” and see how quickly you improve. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes—that’s how you learn.
So, grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and let’s keep those prepositions in their place (just like the cat… hopefully!).