In general, we use:
at for a point (en un punto)
in for an enclosed (espacio cerrado)
on for a surface (sobre la superficie)
at used before :
- general locations, the airport, home, night, a bus stop, a party, the station
- times e.g. 6:35, quarter to five etc
in used before:
- countries, rooms
- months, seasons (winter, summer), years
at used before:
- transport (plane,, a bus, etc)
- over a surface(on the floor, wall, shelf)
- days and dates
Exceptions: These always go together: (estos siempre van juntos)
at home----------in a car--------------on a bus
at work-----------in a taxi--------------on a train
at school----------in a helicopter---------on a plane
at university------in a boat-------------on a ship
at college---------in a lift (elevator)-----on a bicycle, on a motorbike
at the bottom-----in the sky------------on the radio, on television
at the side--------in a row-------------on the left, on the right
Look at these examples:
Jane is waiting for you at the bus stop.
The shop is at the end of the street.
My plane stopped at Dubai and Hanoi and arrived in Bangkok two hours late.
When will you arrive at the office?
Do you work in an office?
I have a meeting in New York.
Do you live in Japan?
Jupiter is in the Solar System.
The author's name is on the cover of the book.
There are no prices on this menu.
You are standing on my foot.
There was a "no smoking" sign on the wall.
I live on the 7th floor at 21 Oxford Street in London
Nota:
El problema de estas preposiciones es que la traducción muchas veces de in/on/at es "en" y en ciertos casos uno puede elejir "in" o "at"Si uno dice "Estoy en el banco" ¿como es que lo dice en ingles? Bueno uno tiene solo dos opciones pues "on" es sobre la superficie. "At" siempre se refiere a una localizacion general y "in" es específicamente dentro de una edificio. Entonces si uno dice "I" am at the bank" es en general pero "I am in the bank" quieres especificar que uno esta dentro de el edificio. Como ven uno puede decir los dos siempre y cuando no este en la lista de excepciones.