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Introduction
Why do we say The bank is on Grimshaw Lane. and She lives at 132 Gainsborough Avenue, but
not *She lives in 132 Gainsborough Avenue or *The bank is at Grimshaw Lane?
Many learners and teachers sometimes view the usage and meaning of prepositions as a secret that cant be
unlocked. However, if we examine the syntactic environments of such key prepositions systematically, patterns
of usage and core meaning concepts emerge which can aid explanation and learning.
The prepositions at, in and on are often used in English to talk about places (positions) and times. Sometimes
the choice of one over another in a particular phrase or sentence seems arbitrary. However if we analyse
patterns of occurrence we can identify key concepts in meaning and usage which consistently apply and can
be used as a platform for learning.
1. Prepositions of time
The preposition AT is used in the following descriptions of time:
With clock times:
2. Prepositions of place
The preposition AT is used in the following descriptions of place/position:
With specific places/points in space:
at - is a mechanism for denoting the specific, it usually refers to fixed points in time (e.g.: clock times)
and specific points in space.
on is a mechanism which usually describes something in relation to a second, often linear
dimension, hence it relates to the calendar (days and dates) and surfaces or lines.
in is a mechanism for describing something in relation to the things that surround it in time or space,
hence it relates to periods of time and three dimensional spaces or containers.
Extended meaning of AT
And more generally to talk about the level or rate of something, e.g.:
Interest rates have stayed at this level for several months.
The loan repayments are going up at an alarming rate.
Extended meanings of ON
On is used to show when the surface of something accidentally hits or touches a part of the body:
I cut my finger on a sharp knife.
She banged her head on the cupboard door.
Extended meanings of in