How to Use To In and At Prepositions in English Grammar
hi I need a welcome to Oxford online
English in this lesson we’re going to
look at the prepositions to in and up
have you ever asked yourself why there
doesn’t seem to be any rules for
prepositions in English if you have
problems with these small words don’t
worry you’re not the only one a good way
to understand and learn the difference
between prepositions to look at them in
groups that way you can compare and
contrast them we’re going to look at two
in and up together because it can be
used to talk about place first look at a
picture listen to three sentences which
one fits the picture and drive into the
airport and that the airport and in the
airport which sentence fits the first
one I’m driving through the airport a
good way to understand English
prepositions is to look at the words
that go before and after them which
words go before and after the
preposition to for example which verb
comes before - in our sample sentence
the verb Rhys Rhys is a verb of movement
to expresses movement to the Ford - we
need a verb that expresses movement so
let’s think
can you think of any other verbs with
express movements go is an obvious
example maybe you thought a verbs like
run walk or come for example you ran to
the end of the road we walk to school
every day you have to come to my house
for dinner these verbs are all about
people and how they move you can also
use things for example he sent a letter
to France can you think of any more
verbs related to moving things good
examples
I take or move but there are many more
for example I took my bike to a shop to
get it repaired we move the sofa to the
other side of the room I have another
tip for you you can also use - after
nouns that express movements what do I
mean by that
what’s the missing word in this sentence
and planning are to China this summer
you know the missing words is tripped
and planning a trip to China this summer
can you think of any other nouns like
trip where you can use - after the land
you can also use - after nouns like
holiday invitation or way for example we
went on holiday to Egypt last year they
sent us an invitation to the hexerin
party you know the writers of the Calico
guidance there is an exception to these
rules you know what it is it’s a very
common word which I’m sure you all know
the place home does not use the
preposition to
you cannot say I’m going to home the
correct sentence is I’m going home also
know these two with the pronouns here or
there for example bring it here let’s go
there and see what we can find
so now you know how to use to use to
after verbs or nouns which express
movements so what about in how would he
describe this picture there’s a woman
where is she you can say she’s in the
library
why do you use in you use in to describe
being surrounded by walls or other
things let’s look at some more examples
the Empire State Building is in New York
we stayed in a small town in defective
England
my cousin lived in China remember to
understand prepositions you should look
at the words before and after the
preposition let’s look at the verbs you
can use before in you can see the verb
be stay and live do these verbs express
movements no they describe states
without movement can you think of other
examples of verbs which don’t express
movement there are many you could use
stand sleep or study for example why are
you standing in the corner like that
she was sleeping in the car on the way
here do you prefer to be in your room or
in the library now let’s look at the
man’s all of these nouns New York China
a small town the corner of the car your
room the library what connects them
there are places with surround view you
can use in 4 cities countries and
buildings which you are inside these are
direct physical ways to use in can you
think of other things which you can use
after in you can also use in in more
indirect ways for example Leland the
picture she works in the finance
department I read about it in a
newspaper so use in with verbs which
don’t express movements like be say by
lips and use in with places or things
which surround you so what about app
look at some examples with app she
wasn’t at the bus stop when the bus came
and waiting for you at the end of the
road will meet you at the subway exit
which verbs do we use with app we have B
wait and meet these verbs do not express
movement this sounds very similar to in
so what’s the difference let’s look at
the words after the preposition you have
the bus stop the end of the road and the
subway exit Why ask the
stop why not in the bus stop you can use
app to bust up because you’re not
surrounded by it
think about it the bus stop
could just be a pole by the road with a
sign on it in this case you can’t be in
the bus stop right there’s nothing to be
inside
similarly you say at the end of the road
or at the subway exit because it’s a
specific place what you’re not
surrounded by anything so then why do we
say things like she’s studying
microbiology at University I saw it at
the cinema we can get something to eat
at the supermarket why do we say at the
cinema I’m not in the cinema after all
the cinema is a place with surround view
it’s because you use at to talk about
why you go to a particular place if you
say she’s studying microbiology at
university you use app because you talk
about what she’s doing at university and
why she’s there she’s there because
she’s a student similarly if you say I
saw it at the cinema what are you
talking about
what is it I hope it’s obvious it is a
film you say at the cinema because you
go into the cinema to watch a film
[Music]
you’re not focusing on the place as a
place you’re focusing on why you go
there let’s look at another slightly
different example did you meet an after
party okay
of our party that’s not exactly a
physical location so why do you use
earth you can also use art for events
for example he met his wife at a speed
metal concert there are so many people
at the wedding so like in you can use
app to describe where something is
unlike in use at to talk about specific
places we are not surrounded by anything
you can also use at when you want to
focus on why you go to a place rather
than focusing on the place as a place
finally you can use apps for events so
now we’ve looked at each preposition
individually let’s compare and contrast
them okay so can you remember the
difference between 2m and apps in
English - expresses movement that means
you need a verb which expresses
movements before - and a place after to
ask and in both Express where something
is there are some places which could
only be used with one preposition for
example you still in bed there’s still
some sauce in the fridge you said at the
end of the table
what did you do at work today in these
cases you can’t choose there’s only one
possibility however sometimes you can
use either asked or in with no
difference in meaning
can’t talk right now I’m in a meeting I
can’t talk right now I’m at a meeting
then sometimes a stand-in are both
possible but with slightly different
meanings for example I’m at the bank
I’m in the bank can you tell the
difference now these two sentences could
have the same meaning they aren’t
necessarily different however it could
be different and in the bank focuses on
the bank as a physical place maybe it
started raining really hard and you just
run into the bank so you wouldn’t get
wet and up the bank focuses on the bank
as a bind if you say I’m at the bank you
have some fun games to do there let’s
see one more example like this we were
at Mike’s apartment last night
we’re in Mike’s apartment last night can
you tell the difference this time this
time the sentences are definitely
different and you probably wouldn’t want
to use one of them we were at Mike’s
apartment last night focuses on why you
were there why were you there
remembering Mike probably maybe you went
over to Mike for dinner or something
like that we were in Mike’s apartment
last night focuses on Mike’s apartments
as a place this is ice but you are in
Mike’s apartment but Mike wasn’t so what
are you doing there this is why you
probably would
say in Mike’s apartment I hope some of
these rules have helped you understand
the difference between these
prepositions I strongly recommend that
when you’re learning vocabulary don’t
just learn one word but learn the words
on either five two for example if you
want to learn the word bus-stop learn a
full phrase like wait at the bus stop
that way it’s easier to remember the
correct preposition if you enjoyed this
lesson you can find more of our free
lessons at Oxford online English calm
thanks for watching