Positional Language
Describe the position of objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe a toy as being 'on top of' the table
- Follow instructions like 'put the cube behind the box'
- Use 'left' and 'right' in simple contexts
- Use above, below, beside and next to to describe where things sit
- Tell in front of from behind in simple contexts
1 · Read
Position words help you find your toys and tell others where to look. Above means higher up. On top of means resting on the top of something. A book on a box is above the box and on top of it. Below means lower down. Beside and next to mean close by.
Mia's ball sits above the shelf. Her shoes sit below the bed. Her cat sits beside her chair.
In front of you is the side you face. Behind you is at your back. A plain box has no front of its own, so we use the viewer's side: the near side from you is in front of the box, the far side is behind it. Your right side is the side your right hand is on. Your left side is the other side.
Dad says put the cup in front of the plate. Sam puts it there, not behind the plate.
Position words tell where things are, like above, below, or behind.
Extra items x1-x6 adapted from Open Middle 'Describing Shapes'; x7 and x8 are original. Reading adapted from Khan Academy 'Prepositions and prepositional phrases'. Media is Khan Academy 'Relative position'. Per-item licenses in file; null labels are not license grants.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
16 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.