In, on and at (place)
A Meanings
Emma is in the phone box. Nick's dog is on the rug. There's someone at the door.
A 3d space A surface A reference point
IN ON AT
in the phone box sit on the floor sit at my desk
in the kitchen walk on the pavement wait at the bus stop
work in the garden a number on the door at the crossroads
swim in the pool egg on your shirt wait at the traffic lights
In a town/country On a floor (1st, 2nd, etc) At a place on a journey
Kate lives in York. on the first floor Does this train stop at York?
Atlanta is in Georgia. On a street (US) At a house/an address
In a street (GB) on Fifth Avenue at Mike's (house)
in Shirley Road On a road or river at 65 Shirley Road
a village on this road At an event
Paris is on the Seine. at the party
B In and at with buildings
IN
There are 400 seats in the cinema.
It was raining, so we waited in the pub.
We use in when we mean inside a building.
AT
I was at the cinema. (watching a film)
We were at the pub. ( having a drink)
We normally use at when we are talking about what happens there.
C Some common phrases
IN
in prison/hospital
in the lesson
in a book/newspaper
in the photo/picture
in the country
in the middle
in the back/front of a car
in a queue/line/row
ON
on the platform
on the farm
on the page/map
on the screen
on the island/beach/coast
drive on the right/left
on the back of an envelope
AT
at the station/airport
at home/work/school
at the seaside
at the top/bottom of a hill
at the back of the room
at the end of a corridor