Express location using appropriate prepositions of place and time (target: in, at, on, under, inside, outside, over, near)

1. In

We use in when something is inside an enclosed space.

• The boy is in the water.
• Nengai put the food in her bag.
• The pupils are in the classroom.

2. At

We use at for specific places or points.

• The girl is at the door.
• The meeting took place at Mkulima Hall.
• He arrived at school early.

3. On

We use on when something is on top of a surface.

• The soda is on the table.
• Penny is sitting on a branch.
• They had a picnic on the grass.

4. Under

We use under when something is below another thing.

• The bucket is under the table.
• The boy is seated under the tree.
• Put your pen under the table.

5. Inside

We use inside when something is within an enclosed place.

• Some pupils went inside the hall.
• Put your book inside the bag.
• The cat is inside the house.

6. Outside

We use outside when something is beyond an enclosed place.

• Some pupils went outside the hall to get chairs.
• Go outside the classroom.
• The snake is outside the classroom.

7. Over

We use over when something is above another thing, but not touching.

• The eagle is over the hen.
• The ball crossed over the boy.
• Put your pen over your exercise book.

8. Near

We use near when something is close to another thing.

• The girl is standing near the dog.
• The tree is near the playground.
• I met my friend near the bus stop.

Let's look at this short story and identify the prepositions:

Last month, Standard Four pupils had a meeting. The meeting took place in the Mkulima Hall near the school library. Some pupils went outside the hall to get chairs. They put waste bins under each table and bottles of water on each table.

Answers:

• in (inside a place)
• near (close to)
• outside (beyond the hall)
• under (below)
• on (on top of)

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:

1. Today, I went to school early in the morning.
2. My classroom is on the second floor.
3. I put my books in my desk.
4. There is a big tree near the playground.
5. Our teacher stands in front of the classroom.

In everyday life in Tanzania, you use prepositions of place when giving directions to visitors, describing where you kept your school bag, or telling a friend where to meet you at the market. For example, when selling fruits at the market, you might say "The mangoes are on the table near the entrance" so customers know exactly where to find them.