at/in/on/to

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Welcome 

What does this idiom mean?

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Planning  I Wednesday the 20th of May

• at/in/to/on (prepositions)

Goal: After today you will be able to use the most common prepositions in your English writing.

in

The "Box" Rule (In)

Think of IN as being inside a 3D container, a bordered area, or a large territory. If you are surrounded by walls or borders, you use in.

• Enclosed spaces: in a room, in a car, in a box, in bed.

• Areas with borders: in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, in Europe, in the woods.

On

The "Table" Rule (On)

Think of ON as being on top of a 2D surface, a line, or a digital screen. If it has a flat surface or involves technology/media, it’s on.

• Surfaces: on the table, on the floor, on the grass, on the wall (vertical surface).

• Technology & Media: on the internet, on phone, on TV, on TikTok, on a website.

• Large Public Transport: on the bus, on the train, on a plane.

At

The "Target" Rule (At)

Think of AT as a specific point, a dot on a map, a functional place, or a social event. You aren't focusing on being inside the walls; you are focusing on the location or purpose.

• Specific points: at the bus stop, at the door, at the traffic light, at the top of the page.

• Functional buildings (Institutions): at school, at university, at work.

• Social gatherings/Events: at a party, at a concert, at a festival.

To

The "Arrow" Rule (To)

Think of TO as a moving arrow. You only use to when there is movement, travel, or direction from point A to point B.

• Movement: go to school, travel to Spain, walk to the beach, run to the station.

• The Trap: If you are already there, you cannot use to.

  • Wrong: "I am to school." ❌

  • Right: "I am at school." (Target rule) or "I am going to school." (Arrow rule).

At/in/on/to

1. Next summer, my family is going _________ Spain for a two-week holiday.

2. We will stay _________ a small hotel right by the beach.

3. I love sitting _________ the balcony in the evening, watching the sunset.

4. My brother prefers playing video games _________ his laptop inside.

5. Yesterday, we waited for forty minutes _________ the bus stop because the bus was late.

Possessive

Jones ____ shoes.

Possessive in easy steps

Eindigt op een S

Eindigt niet op een s

+ '

Bijvoorbeeld:

James'

Students'

+ 's

Bijvoorbeeld:

Children's

Mika's

Possessive s

1. The __________ (teacher) desk is at the front of the classroom.

2. All of the __________ (birds) nests were built in the same large oak tree.

3. My __________ (brother) bicycle is blue.

4. The __________ (children) toys were scattered all over the living room floor.

5. This is the __________ (ladies) changing room; the men's is down the hall.

6. I need to clean out my __________ (dogs) house; both of them sleep in there.

7. __________ (James) cat loves to sleep on top of the warm television.

8. The __________ (men) bathroom is currently closed for repairs.

9. All the __________ (students) exam results will be posted on Friday.

10. My __________ (parents) car is parked in the driveway.

Word order

1. to the gym / goes / every morning / Sarah

   ---

2. played / the children / in the park / all afternoon / happily

   ---

3. last night / we / at that new Italian restaurant / ate

   ---

4. will meet / at the station / at 6:00 PM / I / you

   ---

5. on the stage / beautifully / sang / the choir / on Saturday

   ---

6. did / your homework / you / in the library / yesterday / do?

   ---

7. my keys / on the kitchen table / this morning / I / left

   ---

8. for two hours / waited / at the bus stop / they

• pass → passes

• wash → washes

• watch → watches

• fix → fixes

Words ending with an S-sound

Exeption 1

• study → studies

• try → tries

• carry → carries

Verbs ending in y

Exeption 2

BUT!

stay → stays

1. I work in London.

2. She enjoys playing the piano.

3. They play soccer on weekends.

4. The sun rises in the east.

5. Water boils at 100°C.

6. He speaks English.

7. My dog barks when someone knocks.

8. You look happy today.

+

1. I work in London.

2. She enjoys playing the piano.

3. They play soccer on weekends.

4. The sun rises in the east.

5. Water boils at 100°C.

6. He speaks English.

7. My dog barks when someone knocks.

8. You look happy today.

Base rule for affirmative sentences

(positive)

Shortest version of the word (het werkwoord)

I talk

They write

We listen

+S voor he, she en it

She talks

He writes

It listens

1. I don't work in London.

2. She doesn't enjoy playing the piano.

3. They don't play soccer on weekends.

4. The sun doesn't rise in the east.

5. Water doesn't boil at 100°C.

6. He doesn't speak English.

7. My dog doesn't bark when someone knocks.

8. You don't look happy today.

—

1. Do I work in London?

2. Does she enjoy playing the piano?

3. Do they play soccer on weekends?

4. Does the sun rise in the east?

5. Does water boil at 100°C?

6. Does he speak English?

7. Does my dog bark when someone knocks?

8. Do you look happy today?

?

It should be illegal to walk past someone who clearly needs help without doing anything? Or does forcing people to help take away their personal freedom?

Agree

Disagree

Does giving everyone a trophy for participating help build confidence, or does it devalue the hard work of the winners?

Help build confidence

Devalue the hard word of the winners

Should we spend billions of dollars trying to reach Mars when that money could be used to solve poverty or climate change on Earth? Is a "Plan B" planet necessary?

We should

We shouldn't