Fill in the blank with suitable preposition:
He is standing ___ the corner of the street.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
at
Explanation
The sentence requires a preposition of place to show the exact location of the person. The correct preposition to use here is at.
In English grammar, we use at when we are referring to a specific point, spot, or precise location in space. A street corner acts as a specific point or junction on a map where people meet or stand. Therefore, 'at the corner of the street' is the standard idiomatic and grammatically correct phrase.
Let's look at why the other options are less suitable or incorrect for this specific context:
The preposition 'on' is generally used for surfaces (like on the floor) or when referring to the street line itself (like on Broadway Street). While people do occasionally say 'on the corner,' it usually implies being right on top of the physical curb surface rather than just waiting at that location.
The preposition 'in' is used for enclosed or three-dimensional spaces (like in a room or in a car). You would only use 'in the corner' if you were talking about the inside corner of an enclosed space, such as 'in the corner of the room.'
The preposition 'over' implies being directly above something with space in between, which makes no sense for someone standing on the ground.
Because the sentence points out a precise meeting or standing spot outdoors, 'at' is the most accurate choice.
Key Points
Mastering prepositions of place depends on understanding whether you are dealing with a point, a surface, or an enclosed space.
Use at for a specific point or exact address (for example, at the bus stop, at the entrance, at 10 Downing Street).
Use on for surfaces, lines, floors, and streets without house numbers (for example, on the table, on the first floor, on Main Street).
Use in for areas, territories, volumes, and enclosed boxes (for example, in London, in the park, in a building).