in, on, under — where things are

The words that put a thing somewhere. Three to start with, and a toy box is the only material you need.

From age 4Cambridge level: Pre-A1 Starters

Age: Ages 4–11
Level: Pre-A1
Skill: Grammar
Format: Teacher guide

The pattern

Saying it: The cat is on the box
Saying no: It isn't in the box
Asking: Where is the cat?
Short answer: Under the table.

Printable worksheet Presentation (PPT)

Sentences a child can say

Tap any sentence to hear it. Every one uses words from a topic pack you already have.

Mini exercise: choose the right word

Five sentences from this page, each with a word missing. A child taps the word that fits and, once it is right, hears the whole sentence.

The cat blank on the box.
The dog blank under the table.
My book blank on the desk.
The shoes blank under the bed.
It is next blank the door.

What you will actually hear

The mistakes that come up in every class, and what is behind each one, with a tag on those a first language makes typical.

The bird is on the tree.The bird is in the tree.

English puts things in a tree, among its branches — not on its surface. This one is worth learning as a picture.

in the lefton the left

Sides take on. Left, right and top all sit on, not in.

The cat is in the box on the table under the chair.The cat is in the box.

Not a grammar error but the commonest classroom failure: one preposition per sentence until all three are solid.

Typical for Spanish speakers

The book is in the table.The book is on the table.

Spanish «en» covers both in and on («en la caja», «en la mesa»), so children pick either. English splits them: on top is on, inside is in.

How to teach it

1
One box and one toy. Move the toy, say the word, move it again — a whole first lesson needs nothing else.
2
Let them give the orders. A child telling you where to put the toy learns faster than a child being told.
3
Hide-and-find beats point-and-repeat. The answer is the sentence, and the reason to say it is real.
4
Add next to and behind only when in, on and under come out without a pause.

Topic packs that pair with this

Same structure, words your class already knows — no new vocabulary needed.

At home School Toys & fun Animals In the kitchen

Questions teachers ask

How many prepositions in one lesson?

Two, at most three, and always with the same object so only the position changes. Six at once produces a child who knows the words and can use none of them.

Does it matter that my language uses cases instead?

It matters for what you drill. A Russian-speaking child has to learn that the position word carries the meaning on its own, with no ending to help it. Expect the preposition to be dropped rather than confused.