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difference between In and At?

37 replies
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:
Hi

where do we use in and at?
New Member27
1 comment
:
"Samand is in the house."
We know from this sentence that Samand is inside the house.
"Samand is at the house."
We cannot tell from this sentence if Samand is inside the house or outside the house but we know he is somewhere at the house.

Today I was at the office. If someone phoned at my home asking where I was they would have been told "Robyn is at the office."
While I was there if someone was looking for me, they would have asked where is Robyn? For most of the day the response would have been; "She is in her office."
I have a room in a building that is my office, however during the day I move to and from my room to interact throughout the building, the whole place where I work can be refered to as "the office" in which case you would say 'at' but when I am actually within my office you would say 'in'.
Are you more confused now?
I think I am.
Right now I am sitting at my desc infront of my computer in my office at home.
Full Member323
:
See A sentence
Veteran Member46,093
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:
If a speaker is standing outside someone's office, he could only say She's in the office.

If a speaker is some miles away, he could say She's in/at the office.
Contributing Member1,620
:
Silversamand
Hi

where do we use in and at?

In general, we see "in" as being contained by borders, wall, limits, a period, etc. (both literal and metaphoric). With "at" we generally imagine a point in space or time.

Then we have fixed expressions like:

at home

at the office

at (the) school

at play

at war
Senior Member3,149
1 comment
Anonymous:
i dont no!can you give me answer?
Anonymous:
that was really helpful thank you.

the explanation wasn't that confusing though.
Anonymous:
How about this sentence? Which preposition is more appropriate to use - in or at? Your future begins ____ OLCA (name of school).
:
I would use at.
Veteran Member15,318
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