PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
ON is used with lines and surfaces: Los Angeles is ON the West Coast of the US.
IN is used with areas that are enclosed: He was born IN the US. Denver is IN the Rocky Mountains.
BY: close to, beside, or alongside a place:
San Francisco is a city BY the Bay. There’s a nice restaurant BY the river. A big bus drove BY the house as I opened the door. Helen waved to us as she went BY.
OFF : near to: Catalina island is just OFF the coast of California.
OTHER PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE:
At, next to, beside, between, in front of, under, across from, opposite, diagonally opposite, to, into, onto, through, across, up, down, along, past
Prepositions are not used with the following locations or destinations: Overseas, inside, here, home, upstairs, downtown, abroad, outside, there, where, downstairs
For further reading, visit University of Victoria site
IN is used when the cardinal points are nouns (IN the East. IN the South).
ON is used when the cardinal points are adjectives (ON the east coast).
PRONUNCIATION EXERCISE AUDIO
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. It also completely enclaves the country Lesotho. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World, and the second-most populous country located entirely south of the equator, after Tanzania. South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, with unique biomes, plant and animal life.
EXERCISES
Complete the sentences using: TO THE NORTH, TO THE SOUTH, BY, IN, ON, OFF, NORTHERNMOST, ETC. (See below for the complete text)
The United States of America is a large country that occupies most of the continent of North America. It is bordered by Canada to the north, Mexico __________. On its east coast is the Atlantic Ocean. __________, the Pacific Coast stretches all the way from Canada to Mexico. The US has many big cities. San Franciso is a beautiful city ______ bay. Los Angeles is a very large city ___ the west coast. Seattle is home to many technology companies ___ the Northwest. Miami is the sunny destination for many people ____ the South. Houston is a large city _____ the Gulf of Mexico.
The US also includes Hawaii, a State far ____ its west coast, ____ the Pacific Ocean, and Alaska, ____ the very far North. Alaska is the ___________ State of the US.
The US has a very diverse geography that includes mountains, plains, deserts, forests, lakes, rivers, and coasts. Some of the most famous landmarks in the US are the Rocky Mountains ____ the west, the Mississippi River ____ the middle, the Grand Canyon ____ the southwest, the Great Lakes in the north, the Statue of Liberty ______ Ellis Island ____ the northeast, and the Golden Gate Bridge ____ San Francisco_____ the northwest.
ANSWER
The United States of America is a large country that occupies most of the continent of North America. It is bordered by Canada to the north, Mexico to the south.
On its east coast is the Atlantic Ocean. On its east coast is the Atlantic Ocean. __________, the Pacific Coast stretches all the way from Canada to Mexico. The US has many big cities. San Franciso is a beautiful city by the bay. Los Angeles is a very large city on the west coast. Seattle is home to many technology companies in the Northwest. Miami is the sunny destination for many people in the South. Houston is a large city on the Gulf of Mexico.
The US also includes Hawaii, a State far off its west coast, in the Pacific Ocean, and Alaska, in the very far North. Alaska is the northernmost State of the US.
The US has a very diverse geography that includes mountains, plains, deserts, forests, lakes, rivers, and coasts. Some of the most famous landmarks in the US are the Rocky Mountains in the west, the Mississippi River in the middle, the Grand Canyon in the southwest, the Great Lakes in the north, the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, in the northeast, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Franciscoin the northwest.