Prepositions of Place

One Stickman, One Box, Seventeen Positions

Same two characters every panel — a stickman and a box — just repositioned. No scenery to parse: the panel is the meaning.

Touching & Inside

Height

Proximity

Position

Movement & Path

At

Structure: at + a specific point

I’ll meet you at the entrance.

An exact point or address, no size or area implied.

On

Structure: on + a surface

The keys are on the table.

Touching a surface.

In

Structure: in + an enclosed space

The milk is in the fridge.

Inside something, or inside a larger area, like “in London.”

Above

Structure: above + a higher position

The plane flew above the clouds.

Higher up, not necessarily directly overhead or touching.

Over

Structure: over + directly above, or across

She held the umbrella over her head.

Directly above, often covering something below it.

Below

Structure: below + a lower position

The valley lies below the mountain.

Lower down, in a general sense.

Under

Structure: under + directly beneath

The cat is hiding under the bed.

Directly beneath, often hidden or covered.

Between

Structure: between + two things

The house sits between two large oak trees.

Two identifiable points or things.

Among

Structure: among + a group

She felt at home among old friends.

Part of three or more, not individually distinguished.

In Front Of

Structure: in front of + something

Park the car in front of the garage.

On the forward-facing side.

Behind

Structure: behind + something

The bins are behind the house.

On the far or hidden side.

Next To / Beside

Structure: next to / beside + something

He sat next to his sister at dinner.

Directly at the side of, touching or almost touching.

Near

Structure: near + something

The hotel is near the train station.

Close by, without touching or a fixed side.

Opposite

Structure: opposite + something

The bakery is opposite the pharmacy.

Facing, on the other side.

Across

Structure: across + a space

There’s a good café across the street.

On the other side of a road, river, or similar gap.

Through

Structure: through + an enclosed path

The train went through a long tunnel.

In one side and out the other.

Around

Structure: around + something

They walked around the lake.

Following, or on all sides of, the outer edge.

On vs In

Structure: on vs in

The cat is on the box. / The cat is in the box.

On top of it, or inside it: the whole meaning changes.

Above vs Over

Structure: above vs over

The picture hangs above the fireplace. / The bridge goes over the river.

Above is general height; over usually means directly overhead or spanning something.

Below vs Under

Structure: below vs under

The shop is below street level. / The papers are under the book.

Below is general height; under is direct, and often hidden or covered.