anyone there who knows when do we use in,on,at, and to?

Question

i am confused w/ these

Answer 1

The other answers gave examples like IN the box, ON the table, etc. but I'm sure that's not what has you confused.

The big problems with prepositions, especially for non-native speakers of English, are:

1. Time expressions
IN... 1975, May, the morning/evening/afternoon, the future/past, the winter/spring/summer/fall
ON... Monday, a Monday morning, a rainy day, your birthday
AT... three o'clock, this time, the time you called

2. Place expressions
IN... the US, California, the Midwest, Los Angeles, a car/taxi, bed, the hospital (= you are sick)
ON... an island, the beach, the bus/plane/train/boat
AT... a party, home/work/school, the mall, the store, the hospital (=not sick, just visiting)

3. Phrasal verbs
For example, put ON clothes vs. put IN a day's work.
Unfortunately these all have to be memorized. There's no reliable rule or system behind them. It's also hard even to find a good list of common phrasal verbs but you might try this one: http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa011198.htm

4. With expressions followed by ~ing
I'm interested IN visiting Canada.
I'm planning ON going there soon.
I'm looking forward TO going skiing.
Again, these just have to be memorized. The only rule is that "look forward TO" is the only one that uses TO.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The pencil is IN the jar (inside the jar)
The computer is ON the table (on top of the table - with contact)
I live at 868 St. John St. Usually when you mention the number of the house, you use AT. But you can also use ON to indicate the street where you live. There is a diffence between Am. English and Br. English, though.
I will meet you AT the Bank - usually in front of the Bank or IN the Bank (inside the Bank)
I will go TO the movies tomorrow night
Usually with the verb TO GO you have to use the preposition TO.
TO me, sushi is the best Japanese food ever!!!
I am sitting AT the computer not ON the computer, because I am supposed to sit at the table whre the computer is. If I say I am sitting ON the computer, I would be sitting ON TOP of it.

OK???

Hope it helps.
Source: myself. I teach ESL.

Answer 3

All of these words are prepositions and used as already described by earlier responders. Prepositions are usually combined with nouns to form a phrase that acts as a modifier.

Answer 4

Sure do. In the park. On the table. At the bench. To the tree with leaves.

Answer 5

In: when referring to something contained by something else. "The cat was IN the sink." The check is IN the mail." "The wine is IN the refrigerator."

On: when something is at or in contact with the upper surface of something else. "The cat was ON the table." "His hand was ON his face." "He put his hand ON her knee."

At: refers to location: "He was AT the store." "The party was AT my house, not hers." "My car is AT the my Mom's house. It is parked IN the street."

To: Motion or direction towards a point or place: "He went TO the city." "He gave the money TO her." "We give answers TO questions, here at Yahoo! Answers."

"After he went TO the city, he was IN the city, AT my house."

I have heard it said that prepositions (in, at, on, to, etc) are one OF the most difficult things for non-English-speakers TO grasp! You are not the only one who has trouble WITH these! :-))

Hope this helps! :-))

Answer 6

When we are speaking or talking... Also when we type sentences that need in, on, at, and to

Answer 7

Proper use of on.
http://rhyme.poetry.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=on&typeofrhyme=def&org1=syl&org2=l&cbr=pc

Proper use of in.
http://rhyme.poetry.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=in&typeofrhyme=def&org1=syl&org2=l&cbr=pc






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