Vocabulary: Core & Everyday Vocabulary (A2) - Lesson 3: Common Prepositions of Place

Lesson 3: Common Prepositions of Place

Where Is It?

You know the names of many objects in your house and classroom. But how do you describe their location? To say where something is, we need special words called "prepositions of place". This lesson will teach you the most important ones so you can be more precise.

Word Bank: Describing Location

• Preposition of Place (noun phrase) | ធ្នាក់នៃទីកន្លែង
  A word that shows the location of a noun.
• in (preposition) | នៅក្នុង
  Inside a container, room, or area.
  Example: "The coffee is in the cup."
• on (preposition) | នៅលើ
  Touching the surface of something.
  Example: "The book is on the table."
• under (preposition) | នៅក្រោម
  Below or lower than something.
  Example: "The cat is sleeping under the chair."
• next to (preposition) | នៅក្បែរ
  Beside something.
  Example: "The restaurant is next to the bank."
• between (preposition) | នៅចន្លោះ
  In the space separating two things.
  Example: "I am sitting between Srey and Bora."
• in front of (preposition) | នៅខាងមុខ
  Directly before something.
  Example: "The tuk-tuk is in front of the hotel."
• behind (preposition) | នៅខាងក្រោយ
  At the back of something.
  Example: "The garden is behind the house."

Usage Note: Asking "Where...?"

To ask about the location of something, you can use "Where is...?" or "Where are...?"

• For one object (singular), ask: "Where is...?"
  Example: "Where is my book?" ➞ "It is on the table."
• For more than one object (plural), ask: "Where are...?"
  Example: "Where are my shoes?" ➞ "They are under the bed."

In Conversation

Srey is helping Bora find his things.

Bora: Srey, I can't find my phone! Where is my phone?

Srey: I think I saw it on the sofa.

Bora: No, it's not on the sofa. Oh, wait. It is under this magazine!

Srey: Great! Now, we can go. The tuk-tuk is waiting in front of the house.

Bora: Okay. My bag is right here, next to the door.

Srey: And my bag is between your bag and the chair. Let's go!

Check Your Understanding

1. The coffee is inside the cup. The coffee is ______ the cup.
   • a) on
   • b) under
   • c) in
   Answer: c) in

2. You are looking for your shoes (plural). You should ask:
   • a) Where is my shoes?
   • b) Where are my shoes?
   • c) Where on my shoes?
   Answer: b) Where are my shoes?

3. What is the opposite of 'in front of'?
   • a) next to
   • b) between
   • c) behind
   Answer: c) behind

Your Mission

1. My Room: Write three sentences describing where things are in your room. Use three different prepositions. (e.g., "My pillow is on my bed. My clothes are in the closet.")
2. Practice: Place your pen in different positions relative to a book (on the book, under the book, next to the book). Say the correct English sentence for each position.
3. Speak: Your mission is to ask someone "Where is the...?" for an object in your house. (e.g., "Where is the remote control?")