Diffrence Between at, In , On

7/28/2019 Diffrence Between at, In , On

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struggle to think of a context in which I might

say "I'm at India". However, I might well say

both "I'm at the house" and "I'm in the house",

even in the same conversation, depending

upon the context. I think that is worth you

exploring...

itsbruceOct 18 '12 at 9:40

If you look at other questions with the preposition tag, you'll

find many questions like this. Both prepositions can be used to

specify location, as well as others. "I am in China. I am at the

Great Wall. Tomorrow I will be on the island." I'm not aware of

any one simple rule that will always lead you to the "correct"

preposition (although Gulliver's guideline below is a good

generality), and sometimes they can be used

interchangeably. J.R.Oct 18 '12 at 9:49

The rule of thumb is "in" means precise location, "at" means

visiting for practical purposes. Taking shelter from rain in thebank, or depositing money at the bank. But there are countless

exceptions and caveats. SF.Oct 18 '12 at 12:28

@itsbruce Well, you might say "I'm at the house" if you are in

your house's garden but not indoors, and "I'm in the house" if

you're physically within the house.

There aremany answersfor this, but looking at the dictionary we get:

at: In or near the area occupied by; in or near the location of

in: Within the limits, bounds, or area ofPeople are usually using in to note a general location and atfor a more specific location.

I'm in the building, at the front desk

I'm in New York, at the conference

I'm in New York, at the Empire State Building

EDIT: But note also the difference when in is used to indicate inside

I'm in the elevator = I'm inside the elevator

I'm at the elevator = I'm near the elevator

Something missing from the other answers posted so far, I feel, is that atis appropriate

where there is an expectation of or potential for travel away from the location, or where

it's important to distinguish it from other potential locations. So if somebody asked

where I was, I might say

I'm at the house

if I'd been at other locations that day and expected only to be there for a while (especially

if the other person knew this). Similarly, I might say

I'm at the hotel.For slightly different reasons, I'd say
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I'm at the Hilton Hotel

to distinguish it from the other potential hotels.

In the house or hotel is more appropriate in other contexts but I"m not going to examine

those exhaustively right now.

When talking about location, in is generally used for a larger area where there are

numerous specific locations possible

I am in the United States.

I am in New York.

I am in the Chelsea neighborhood.

I am in my backyard.

The preposition atis generally used for a specific location or thing.

I am atthe intersection of Hollywood and Vine [streets].

I am atthe Empire State Building.I am atmy hotel.

I am athome.

I am atthe old oak tree in my yard.

However, the above atusage is indifferent to whether you are indoors or outdoors. You

could be on the street in front of your hotel or inside. You could be in your yard athome

or in the bathroom athome.

If you want to convey that you are indoors at a specific location, you would use in

I am in the Empire State Building.

I am in my hotel.

I am in my home.The above conventions reflect an American usage which may or may not be similar in

other English speaking countries.

At" is generally used for smaller, specific locations, like at home, at work, at

Starbucks, at Comicon.

"In" is used for larger areas, like countries, towns, cities...

The at Puriexample is non-standard. It's possible that the speaker was saying something

like at [the XYZ in] Puri, usingPurias an abbreviation. That's my guess, anyway.

hey are both prepositions.

"At" usually refers to the general locality, as in 'at school', 'at the pool', 'at the theatre'. Whereas, "in"

puts you physically inside the premises.

You can be at the pool without being in the pool.

With your example, 'at' & 'in' usually qualify as the same statement. 5 years ago


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In:preposition

1. (used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits): walking in the park.

2. (used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial): in politics; in the

autumn.

3. (used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time): in

ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.

4. (used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner,

action, etc.): to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.

5. (used to indicate means): sketched in ink; spoken in French.

6. (used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into: Let's go in

the house.

7. (used to indicate transition from one state to another): to break in half.

8. (used to indicate object or purpose): speaking in honor of the event.

On:preposition

1. so as to be or remain supported by or suspended from: Put your package down on the

table; Hang your coat on the hook.

2. so as to be attached to or unified with: Hang the picture on the wall. Paste the label on

the package.

3. so as to be a covering or wrapping for: Put the blanket on the baby. Put aluminum foil

on the lamb chops before freezing them.

4. in connection, association, or cooperation with; as a part or element of: to serve on a

jury.

5. so as to be a supporting part, base, backing, etc., of: a painting on canvas; mounted

on cardboard; legs on a chair.

6. (used to indicate place, location, situation, etc.): a scar on the face; the book on the

table; a house on 19th Street.

7. (used to indicate immediate proximity): a house on the lake; to border on absurdity.

8. in the direction of: on the left; to sail on a southerly course.

9. (used to indicate a means of conveyance or a means of supporting or supplying

movement): on the wing; This car runs on electricity. Can you walk on your hands? I'll

be there on the noon plane.

10. by the agency or means of: drunk on wine; talking on the phone; I saw it on

television.11. in addition to: millions on millions of stars.

12. with respect or regard to (used to indicate the object of an action directed against or

toward): Let's play a joke on him. Write a critical essay on Shakespeare.

13. in a state or condition of; in the process of: on strike; The house is on fire!

14. subject to: a doctor on call.

15. engaged in or involved with: He's on the second chapter now.

16. (used to indicate a source or a person or thing that serves as a source or agent): a

duty on imported goods; She depends on her friends for encouragement.

17. (used to indicate a basis or ground): on my word of honor; The movie is based on

the book.

18. (used to indicate risk or liability): on pain of death.19. (used to indicate progress toward or completion of an objective): We completed the


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project on budget.

20. assigned to or occupied with; operating: Who's on the switchboard this afternoon?

21. Informal. so as to disturb or affect adversely: My hair dryer broke on me.

22. Informal. paid for by, esp. as a treat or gift: Dinner is on me.

23. taking or using as a prescribed measure, cure, or the like: The doctor had her on a

low-salt diet.24. regularly taking or addicted to: He was on drugs for two years.

25. Informal. with; carried by: I have no money on me.

26. (used to indicate time or occasion): on Sunday; We demand cash on delivery.

27. (used to indicate the object or end of motion): to march on the capital.

28. (used to indicate the object or end of action, thought, desire, etc.): to gaze on a

scene.

29. (used to indicate subject, reference, or respect): views on public matters.

30. (used to indicate an encounter): The pickpocket crept up on a victim.

At: preposition

1. (used to indicate a point or place occupied in space); in, on, or near: to stand at the

door; at the bottom of the barrel.

2. (used to indicate a location or position, as in time, on a scale, or in order): at zero; at

noon; at age 65; at the end; at the lowest point.

3. (used to indicate presence or location): at home; at hand.

4. (used to indicate amount, degree, or rate): at great speed; at high altitudes.

5. (used to indicate a direction, goal, or objective); toward: Aim at the mark. Look at

that.

6. (used to indicate occupation or involvement): at work; at play.

7. (used to indicate a state or condition): at ease; at peace.

8. (used to indicate a cause or source): She was annoyed at his stupidity.9. (used to indicate a method or manner): He spoke at length.

10. (used to indicate relative quality or value): at one's best; at cost.

_________________

on" = "on top of", "on the front surface of" or "traveling for"

Ex. 1: "The cat is on the chair."

Ex. 2: "I watched the movie on TV."

Ex. 3: "He is on a business trip to Mexico."

"in" = "inside of" or "attending"

Ex. 1: "The dirty dishes are in the dishwasher."

Ex. 2: "Mr. Jones is in a meeting right now."

"at" = "near", "visiting", or it is used for events / entertainment (indoors or outdoors), or for

locations where the purpose is more important than the building

Ex. 1: "The horses were at the trough, eating."

Ex. 2: "We had dinner at my friend's house."Ex. 3: "John is at the movies right now."


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Ex. 4: "I saw Mary at the post office."

With locations that have a specific purpose, you use "at" when you are talking about the purpose

and "inside" when you need to talk about the building itself:

Ex. 1: "The children are at school right now." (purpose, i.e., education)Ex. 2: "There was a fire inside the school today." (the building structure)

In English, there are always exceptions to the rule. But these are good, general guidelines that

should help with many of your problems of usage.

Prepositions of TIME~

at = designate specific times

the train is due at 12:15 p.m.

on = designate days and dates

-my brother is coming on monday-we're having a party on the fourth of july

in = for nonspecific times during a day, a month, a season, or a year.

-she likes to jog in the morning

-it's too cold in winter to run outside

-he started the job in 1971

-he's going to quit in august

~Prepositions of PLACE~

at = specific addressesgrammar english lives at 55 boretz road in durham

on = designate names of streets, avenues, etc.

her house is on boretz road

in = for the names of land-areas (towns, counties, states, countries, and continents)

-she lives in bandung

-bandung is in west java

-west java is in java

f you are just asking a general native speaker's question about whether one is correct or not in

certain contexts, Otherwise, here's a more technical answer for non-native speakers.

They are both prepositions (as in, words that indicate position relative to something else). 'In' is

for when the object in question is inside something else.

"Where are you? I'm in the concert hall already."


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This means that the speaker is inside the building, waiting for his or her friend. 'At' is more

general. It can mean inside, but if you're not a native speaker of English, it's difficult to know when

this is true, so just avoid it. Use 'in' if you mean inside. 'At' means that the object in question has

arrived or is there.

"Where are you? I'm at the concert hall already."

Then means that the speaker has already arrived there, waiting for his or her friend. It could (but

not always) mean the speaker is inside the building or standing in the parking lot. But he or she

has already arrived at the hall, and is somewhere within the area. Technically speaking, 'at' is so

general this could also cover the speaker standing on top of the building (replacing 'on') or in

tunnels underneath the building (replacing 'below' or 'under'), but of course these are less likely. It

does, however, lend to some comical moments in television or movies, if they person listening on

the other end of the phone doesn't realize that 'at' might actually mean the speaker is dangling

over the building in a helicopter.

At times, though, 'at' specifically means not inside. It can kind of mean 'until'. As in:

"I stoppedat the gates to the estate."

This means the speaker went up to the gates, then stopped, not going inside. Obviously, you

can't really stop inside the gates - you can technically say that to mean that you stopped in the

process of passing through them, but native speakers would probably choose to express that

as "I stopped in the middle of the gates".

The intricacies of English are so difficult. It really depends upon context and which verbs are

used. But that's a general idea of the difference.

Here are a few more examples of changing out one for the other:

"I found an office chair I likedin Staples."

vs"I found an office chair I likedat Staples."

Here they are completely interchangeable and mean the same thing. You would have to go inside

the store to get the chair, so 'at' automatically also means 'in'.

"I am at the lake."

vs

"I am in the lake."


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Here they mean totally different things. If you are 'at' the lake, you are sitting around it

somewhere. If you are 'in' the lake, you are swimming in the water.

AT

-AT describes position at a specific point.It's very cold at the bottom of the ocean.

-AT is also used with a larger place (a store, bank, airport etc)Let's meet at the bank

-AT is used before the names of group activities at a party, at a meeting, at a play, at aparade

IN

-IN refers to position within large areas or in spaces that surround something on all sidesMy keys are in my bag. He is not in his office. The car is in the garage

ON (I added this one too!)

-ON is used as "attached to" or wearing

Which finger do you wear your ring on?

-ON also refers to the surface of something

My computer is on my desk. The book is on the shelf

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Diffrence Between at, In , On