Preposiciones de lugar: in / on / under / next to / between
Indican la posición de algo. Úsalas con There is/are o con el verbo to be: There is a cat under the table.
1) Mapa rápido (significado básico)
in = dentro de on = sobre/en (superficie) under = debajo de next to = al lado de between = entre (dos)
Extras útiles A1: behind = detrás de in front of = delante de near = cerca de
2) in / on / under
| Preposición | Uso típico | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| in | Dentro de un espacio o contenedor | The keys are in the bag. (Las llaves están en la bolsa.) She is in the room. (Está en el cuarto.) |
| on | En contacto con una superficie | The book is on the table. (El libro está sobre la mesa.) The picture is on the wall. (El cuadro está en la pared.) |
| under | Debajo (cubierto o no) | The cat is under the chair. (El gato está debajo de la silla.) |
3) next to / between
| Preposición | Idea clave | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| next to | Muy cerca, al lado | The school is next to the park. (La escuela está al lado del parque.) |
| between | En medio de dos cosas | The bank is between the café and the pharmacy. (El banco está entre el café y la farmacia.) |
Fíjate: between se usa con dos elementos. Para muchos elementos, en niveles posteriores verás among.
4) Otras muy comunes (A1)
- behind = detrás de: The car is behind the house.
- in front of = delante de: She is in front of the door.
- near = cerca de (no necesariamente al lado): The bank is near here.
5) Patrón con There is/are y Where…?
Estructura: There is/are + objeto + preposición + lugar
- There is a supermarket near my house.
- There are two chairs in the kitchen.
Pregunta: Where is/are + objeto? → Where is the remote? — It’s under the sofa.
6) Errores comunes
*on the room*✗ → in the room ✓*in the table*✗ → on the table ✓- No olvides el artículo:
*on table*✗ → on the table ✓ *between the three shops*(A1) ✗ → among (nivel posterior) o reescribe con dos puntos de referencia.
7) Mini-práctica
- Complete: The keys are ____ the drawer. (in / on / under)
- Choose: The TV is ____ the wall. (in / on / under)
- Complete: The lamp is ____ the sofa. (next to / between)
- Make a sentence: “two books / the desk” → There are ________.
- Question & answer: “the bank / the café and the cinema” → Where is the bank? — It’s ________.
Soluciones ejemplo: in · on · next to · two books on the desk · between the café and the cinema.