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Abbas Rajabpour Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

In, on, at

Is there any specific rule to know whether we should use " in, or, at" for a place? It's so baffling for a non-native learner.

  

Top answer

Abbas Rajabpour s there any specific rule to know whether we should use " in or at" for a place? It's so baffling for a non-native learner. Nothing is absolute, but the general guideline that I teach my students is conceptual: If the context or writer conceives of the place as a point (1-dimensional) location, as if viewed from afar in contradistinction to other points, then use AT: We arrive at Los Angeles on Quantas flight 685.

  • Abbas Rajabpour s there any specific rule to know whether we should use " in or at" for a place?
  • It's so baffling for a non-native learner.
  • Nothing is absolute, but the general guideline that I teach my students is conceptual: If the context or writer conceives of the place as a point (1-dimensional) location, as if viewed from afar in contradistinction to other points, then use AT: We arrive at Los Angeles on Quantas flight 685.
  • If the context or writer conceives of the place as a 2- or 3-dimensional location, as if viewed from within or at its 'border', then use IN: I have lived in Los Angeles for 10 years.
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1 Answers
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Abbas Rajabpours there any specific rule to know whether we should use " in or at" for a place? It's so baffling for a non-native learner.

Nothing is absolute, but the general guideline that I teach my students is conceptual:

If the context or writer conceives of the place as a point (1-dimensional) location, as if viewed from afar in contradistinctio

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