Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Prepositions And Location Phrases
8 questions · exam conditions
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Prepositions And Location PhrasesQuestion 1 of 8

Maria tells her neighbor: 'The new café just opened   the library — you have to cross the street to get from one to the other.' Which location phrase best completes her sentence?

next to
between
in back of
across from
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Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Prepositions And Location Phrases

Practice Prepositions And Location Phrases in Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Prepositions And Location Phrases, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Maria tells her neighbor: 'The new café just opened   the library — you have to cross the street to get from one to the other.' Which location phrase best completes her sentence?

  1. next to
  2. between
  3. in back of
  4. across from (correct answer)
Explanation: When learning location phrases in English, the key is to match the preposition to the spatial relationship being described. Ask yourself: how are the two places arranged relative to each other? Maria's clue is the most important part of the sentence: "you have to cross the street to get from one to the other." Crossing a street means the two places are on opposite sides of the street — and that's exactly what "across from" (D) means. It describes two things facing each other with a street, hall, or open space in between. This makes D the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices don't work. A) "Next to" means two things are side by side, very close together — like two chairs touching. If the café were next to the library, you could walk straight to it without crossing anything. B) "Between" describes something in the middle of two other things — for example, "the café is between the bank and the school." It requires three things, not two. C) "In back of" means something is behind something else, like "the parking lot is in back of the store." None of these involve crossing a street. A useful tip: watch for action clues in the sentence. Words like "cross the street," "walk through," or "go around" tell you about movement, which points directly to the right location word. Training yourself to spot these clues will help you on many preposition questions.

Question 2

Carlos says: 'My apartment is   the grocery store and the laundromat. I can walk to both of them easily.' Which preposition correctly completes his sentence?

  1. across from
  2. next to
  3. between (correct answer)
  4. in front of
Explanation: When describing where a place is located relative to two other places, the key word to listen for is "both." If someone mentions two landmarks and says they can easily reach both, they're telling you that their location sits in the middle — sandwiched between those two places. That's your signal to think about positional prepositions carefully. Carlos mentions two specific locations — the grocery store and the laundromat — and says he can walk to both. This means his apartment sits in the middle of those two places, with one on each side. The preposition that describes this middle position is C) between. "Between" always connects exactly two reference points, making it the perfect fit here. The other choices describe different spatial relationships. A) "across from" means directly opposite something — like being on the other side of the street. It works with only one reference point, not two. B) "next to" means immediately beside something, but again, it typically refers to one thing, not two locations at the same time. Saying "next to the grocery store and the laundromat" would sound awkward and wouldn't clearly explain that he's in the middle. D) "in front of" describes being ahead of or facing something, which doesn't match the idea of being positioned between two places at all. A helpful memory trick: "between" always needs two. Whenever you see a sentence describing a location with two landmarks joined by "and," "between" is almost always the correct preposition. Watch for this pattern — it appears frequently on placement and ESL exams.

Question 3

Rosa is looking for the post office. Her friend gives her directions: 'Walk down Main Street. The post office is between the bank and the pharmacy. The bank is on the left side of the street, and the pharmacy is next to the bank, also on the left side.'

Based on the directions, where is the post office?

  1. On the right side of Main Street, across from the bank and pharmacy
  2. On the left side of Main Street, with the bank on one side and the pharmacy on the other side (correct answer)
  3. On the left side of Main Street, past the pharmacy at the end of the block
  4. On the right side of Main Street, next to the pharmacy and across from the bank
Explanation: When reading directions in English, pay close attention to prepositions of location — words like between, next to, on the left, and across from. These small words carry the most important information about where something is located. The passage gives you three clear clues: (1) the bank is on the left side of Main Street, (2) the pharmacy is next to the bank, also on the left side, and (3) the post office is between the bank and the pharmacy. "Between" means something is in the middle, with one thing on each side. So if the bank is on the left and the pharmacy is on the left, and the post office is between them, the post office must also be on the left side — with the bank on one side and the pharmacy on the other. That makes B the correct answer. A is wrong because it places the post office on the right side of the street, across from the bank and pharmacy. Nothing in the passage supports this — "between" does not mean "across from." C is wrong because it says the post office is past the pharmacy at the end of the block. "Between" means the post office is in the middle of the two buildings, not beyond them. D is wrong for two reasons: it puts the post office on the right side of the street, and "between" cannot mean "next to" only one building while being across from another. Study tip: When you see the word between, always ask: between what and what? That tells you the exact location.

Question 4

A store directory reads: 'Electronics is on the second floor. The restrooms are next to the elevator on the second floor. The food court is directly across from the electronics department, also on the second floor.'

Jin exits the elevator on the second floor and sees the restrooms immediately to his right. According to the directory, where is the food court?

  1. Next to the elevator, in the same area as the restrooms where Jin is standing
  2. On the opposite side of the floor from the electronics department (correct answer)
  3. On a different floor, not on the second floor with the electronics department
  4. Next to the restrooms, between the restrooms and the electronics department
Explanation: When reading store directories or maps, focus on spatial relationships — words that describe where things are in relation to each other. The key phrase here is "directly across from," which means on the opposite side. The directory gives you three facts: Electronics is on the second floor, restrooms are next to the elevator on the second floor, and the food court is "directly across from the electronics department." "Directly across from" means facing it on the opposite side — like two things on either side of a hallway or room. So the food court is positioned opposite electronics, which makes B correct. Jin standing near the elevator confirms he's in the right location to understand the layout, but the food court's position is defined by its relationship to electronics, not to him or the elevator. A is a trap because Jin is standing near the elevator and restrooms, and the food court is on the second floor — but "directly across from electronics" places it on the far side, not in the same immediate area as the restrooms. C contradicts the directory directly — it says the food court is "also on the second floor," so a different floor is ruled out. D sounds logical because things are sometimes arranged in a line, but the directory never says the food court is next to the restrooms or between anything — that detail simply isn't there. When answering directory or map questions, underline relationship words like "across from," "next to," and "between." These words are the actual answers — everything else is just background detail.

Question 5

Apartment listings in a neighborhood newsletter say: 'Unit 4B is between Unit 3B and Unit 5B on the third floor. Unit 4B has a large window across from the building entrance below. The laundry room is next to Unit 5B at the end of the hallway.'

A resident of Unit 4B walks out of her apartment and turns right toward the laundry room. Which unit does she pass first?

  1. Unit 5B, because the laundry room is next to Unit 5B, and Unit 5B is on her right toward the end of the hallway (correct answer)
  2. Unit 3B, because it is between her apartment and the laundry room on the right side
  3. The building entrance, because her window faces it and it is in the direction she is walking
  4. Unit 3B, because 'between' means Unit 3B is always to the right of Unit 4B in a hallway
Explanation: When reading questions about locations and directions, focus on the sequence of positions along a path. Map out what comes first, second, and last as you move in a specific direction. Here, the passage gives you three clear facts: Unit 4B sits between Unit 3B and Unit 5B, the laundry room is next to Unit 5B, and Unit 5B is at the end of the hallway. When the resident turns right toward the laundry room, she is walking in the direction of Unit 5B. Since Unit 4B is between the two units, Unit 5B must be immediately to her right — she passes it before reaching the laundry room. That makes A correct: she passes Unit 5B first because it stands between her door and the laundry room on that side. Choice B is a trap. "Between" tells you Unit 4B is sandwiched between 3B and 5B, but it does not tell you which side is right or left. If she turns right toward the laundry room (near 5B), then 3B is behind her to the left — she would not pass it at all. Choice D makes the same mistake, incorrectly assuming "between" means 3B is always to the right. "Between" only describes position relative to both neighbors, not a fixed direction. Choice C confuses two separate details — the window faces the building entrance, but the entrance is below on a different floor, not somewhere she walks past in the hallway. Study tip: When a passage describes relative positions, sketch a quick diagram. Drawing it out prevents you from mixing up directions like "right" and "left" under pressure.

Question 6

Read this conversation. Ahmed: 'Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM?' Bank Teller: 'There is one right outside — it is   the entrance and the water fountain, on the left side of the building.' Which preposition correctly completes the teller's directions?

  1. across from
  2. in front of
  3. between (correct answer)
  4. next to
Explanation: When giving directions in English, prepositions of place tell us how two or more objects relate to each other in space. The key to this question is noticing that the bank teller mentions two landmarks — the entrance and the water fountain. Whenever a location is described in relation to two separate points on either side of it, you need a preposition that expresses that middle position. That preposition is "between" (C). "Between" describes something positioned in the middle of two distinct objects or places. The ATM is not just near one thing — it sits in the space separating both landmarks, which makes "between the entrance and the water fountain" perfectly logical and natural. Now let's look at why the other choices don't work. A) "Across from" means something is directly opposite or facing something else — like a shop across from a park. It only works with one reference point, not two, and it suggests distance rather than a middle position. B) "In front of" means something is positioned facing the front of one object, but again it only references a single landmark and doesn't capture the idea of being in the middle. D) "Next to" means immediately beside one thing — it also requires only one reference point and doesn't communicate the in-between relationship at all. A helpful tip: whenever you see two landmarks connected by "and" in a directions sentence, that's your signal that "between" is almost certainly the correct preposition. Train yourself to count the reference points — one point means choices like A, B, or D; two points means "between."

Question 7

A job application asks an applicant to describe the location of their current workplace. The applicant writes: 'I work at a bakery. It is   a hair salon on one side and a dentist's office on the other side, right in the middle of the shopping strip.' Which preposition correctly completes the sentence?

  1. across from
  2. in back of
  3. next to
  4. between (correct answer)
Explanation: When describing where something is located relative to the things on either side of it, English uses specific prepositions, and choosing the right one depends on how many reference points are involved. The sentence tells you the bakery has something on one side and something on the other side — two reference points, one on each side. The phrase "right in the middle" confirms this. The preposition that expresses position between two things is between, making D the correct answer. "Between a hair salon... and a dentist's office" perfectly captures the idea of being sandwiched by exactly two locations. Here's why the other options don't work: A) "across from" describes something directly opposite or facing you — like a store on the other side of the street. It only works with one reference point, not two. B) "in back of" means behind something, which has nothing to do with being in the middle of two places. C) "next to" means beside or adjacent to something, but it only connects the bakery to one neighbor — it can't express being in the middle of two things simultaneously. A helpful tip: watch for the word "and" connecting two places in a sentence. When you see a pattern like "  [Place A] and [Place B]," that's your signal to use between. Also remember that between is for two reference points, while among is used for three or more. Keeping this distinction clear will help you on preposition questions throughout the exam.

Question 8

A community center schedule says: 'The yoga class meets in Room A. Room B is next to Room A. Room C is across from Room A. The computer lab is between Room B and Room C at the end of the main hallway.'

Fatima is standing in Room A's doorway, facing the hallway. Which room is directly in front of her?

  1. Room C, because it is across from Room A and sits on the opposite side of the hallway (correct answer)
  2. The computer lab, because it is at the end of the hallway in the direction she faces
  3. Room B, because it is next to Room A and they share the same hallway wall
  4. Room B, because 'next to' means it is directly facing Room A across the hallway
Explanation: When reading directions and locations in English, pay close attention to positional words like "next to," "across from," and "between." These words describe spatial relationships — where things are in relation to each other — and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes on reading comprehension questions. Here, Fatima stands in Room A's doorway facing the hallway. The key phrase is "across from." When something is across from you, it sits on the opposite side, directly in front of you. The schedule clearly states that Room C is across from Room A, which means when Fatima looks forward into the hallway, Room C is what she sees. That makes A the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. Choice B tempts you with the computer lab, but the schedule says it is "between Room B and Room C at the end of the hallway" — meaning it's further down, not directly opposite Room A's doorway. Choice C correctly identifies that Room B is next to Room A, but "next to" means beside something, sharing the same wall or side — not facing it. Room B would be to Fatima's left or right, not in front of her. Choice D makes the same error as C but goes further by redefining "next to" as "directly facing," which is simply wrong — that definition belongs to "across from." Study tip: When you see location words like "next to," "across from," or "between," sketch a quick map on scratch paper. A simple drawing prevents confusion and makes spatial questions much easier to answer correctly.