“At” or “In” When Talking About Places?

Imagine you are dining out. A friend calls you and asks, “Where are you?” Should you respond, “I’m at a restaurant” or “I’m in a restaurant“? Trick question! Both are perfectly correct – and common.

For many places, we can use “at” or “in”. Sometimes people say “I’m at the store” and sometimes they say “I’m in the store,” and both are okay! However, there is a difference in meaning between “at” and “in”. Sometimes only one of them is correct to use.

When we say “at,” we’re usually talking about being at a specific place, like a friend’s house or the park. For instance, “I’m at Sarah’s house” or “I’m at the park.” It’s like pointing to a spot on a map.

When we say “in,” it’s typically when we’re inside something, like a building or a car. For example,
“I’m in the living room” (NEVER “I’m at the living room”) or
“I’m in the car.” (NOT “I’m at the car.”)

So, while there are differences between “at” and “in,” don’t worry too much. Just keep these ideas in mind and you’ll be okay.

If you are a beginner, learning English as a second language, please watch the video above to learn or practice the names of different places. If you are at an advanced beginner or low intermediate ESL learner, the video can help you practice simple conversational reductions and pronunciation.

Conversation is a wonderful, engaging way to improve your English. If you are interested in one-on-one online English lessons, please contact me! Hope to hear from you soon!