Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[worksmart]

Hi Teachers,

I have a hard time understanding the usage of those prepositions: in, at, on, and from, esp. in and at.

Please tell me which ones are correct. I know this is a lot. But I am confused and I am sure many ESL students have the same problem.

1) A. At the end of the day
B. In the end of the day

2) A. At the end of the story
B. In the end of the story

3) A. Knowledge can be acquired at school and in life.
B. Knowledge can be acquired in school and in life.

4) A. It is at the bottom of the box.
B. It is in the bottom of the box.

5) A. It is at the bottom of the stack.
B. It is in the bottom of the stack.

5) A. At the bottom of the list.
B. On the bottom of the list.

6) A. At the bottom of the page
B. On the bottom of the page

7) A. At the end of the stick
B. in the end of the stick

A. I love you at the bottom of my heart
B. I love you in the bottom of my heart
C. I love you from the bottom of my heart.

9) A. I saw him at a store.
B. I saw him in a store.

Please advice of any rules in applying prepositions.

Thanks so much!

[hitori2k6]

Hi,

I'll just give you the correct usage of each example you provided.


At the end of the day

At the end of the story

Knowledge can be acquired in school and in life
(the other one of this is ok sounding too).

Its in the bottom of the box

Its at the bottom of the stack (stack or sack...?)

At the bottom of the list

At the bottom of the page
(on the bottom of the page is ok. It sounds fine
but may not be grammatically correct).

At the end of the stick

I love you from the bottom of my heart

I don't really have any rules to offer.
You might consider buying the book
"Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.
It will give you good examples of these kinds
of usage.

I hope this helps. Bye

[worksmart]

Thanks so much!

[anantha krishna]

Why not some english teachers post the Logic of usage and distinction of these words??
_________________
N.V.ANANTHA KRISHNA
Hyderabad 500068-India

[worksmart]

Good idea!

But since English is so complicated...I doubt if there are logic of usage and distinction.

[anantha krishna]

There is a definite logic, probably I do not know.
There is nothing illogical in any language, including English
regards
_________________
N.V.ANANTHA KRISHNA
Hyderabad 500068-India