Hi, please. Somebody help me?
How do you use in a sentence the prepositions for, to, at, on and in?
For example:
in my house
at my house
on my house
The translation for portuguese is: em minha casa. That's right ? What the difference?
Thanks
I'm not a English native speaker, but I hope to contribute my idea with this question to helping you understand the usage of preposition better.
"in the house" means that your physical position is inside the house
"at the house" means that your physical position is around the house or next to the house, any spot outside the house, anyway.
"on the house" means that your physical position is on the roof of the house.
If my explanation is incorrect, feel free to correct my answer, thanks
It's really a tough job to have mastering over prepositions. However, one can reduce the mistakes by practicing and oral repetition. The following inforations maybe helpful.
At + precise and small location: at the entrance; at this address; at the hairdresser’s; at home.
At + event: at a party; at a wedding; at a meeting.
In + enclosed space: in a room; in a box; in a car.
In + large location: in a garden; in a street; in a town.
In + abstract location: in a photograph; in a book; in an article.
In hospital (as a patient); in jai/prison (as an inmate); at the hospital/prison (as a visitor)
On + surface: on the table; on page 2; on the sixth floor.
On + public transport: on the bus/trin/plane.
Also: on a list; on a map; on a farm; on an island; on holiday; on TV/ the radio/ the internet/ a website
To + verbs of movement and final destination: drive to work; go to Oxford
Do not use ‘to’ with the word ‘home’: let’s go home.
Also, an invitation to; a visit to.
Into + verbs of movement and a space: go into the garden; run into the house.
In spoken English, ‘in’ is sometimes used instead of ‘into’.
Do not use ‘into’ with ‘enter’ for a physical place: He entered the room.
Use it for abstract places: He entered the data into the computer; They entered into a contract.
There is no real difference in meaning between 'in my/the house' and 'at my/the house'.
'at home' means the same as 'at my/your/his/her house' :
'Are you at home now ?' - 'Yes, I'm at home.'
'Are you at your house now ? - 'Yes, I'm at my house.'
'Are you in your room/in the bathroom/in the kitchen, etc ?' - 'in' a room
'Are you at work ?' - 'Yes, I'm at work' - 'at work', 'at school/college', 'at the hospital'
'When will you be in London ?' - 'I will be in London next week. I am in Oxford now.'
- 'in' a place [town, city, country]
'on <em>my</em> house' - no meaning ; but '<em>on the house</em>' [UK English] means that you do not have to pay for something in a bar, restaurant, etc. - 'It's on the house'.
at - em
in - dentro
on - ligar
I hope this helps.
