New here? This is lesson 26 of a free 240-lesson English course.
In front, behind, beside in English
Ana needs the bathroom at the Blue Plate. Dee says it is behind the jukebox by the door.
Ana stands in front of the quiet jukebox and waits. Murray points beside the pie case.
By the end, you'll say where a thing is: in front, behind, beside, under, inside, or outside.
Beside means next to a person or a thing.
By the end of this lesson
Say where one thing is: in front, behind, beside, under, inside, or outside.
- It's in front of ___.ahead of that thing, at its front
- It's behind ___.at the back of that thing
- It's beside me.at my side
- It's under the table.below the table
- It's inside.in the room or building
- It's outside.not in the room or building
Scene — behind the jukebox
Same morning at the Blue Plate. Ana looks around for the bathroom. Dee is at the counter with the coffee pot.
Murray sits on two stools by the pie case. The jukebox by the door stays quiet. Button B7 still has a blank face.
Learn — in front, behind, beside
These six short lines say where one thing is.
You will use in front, behind, beside, under, inside, and outside.
It's in front of ___.
ahead of that thing, at its front
When to use it: Say this when a thing is ahead of another thing, at its front.
Learn it as one piece for a thing ahead of something.
Say it: Front of can link as one sound.
It's behind ___.
at the back of that thing
When to use it: Say this when a thing is at the back.
Learn it as one piece for a thing at the back.
Say it: Stress the last part of behind.
It's beside me.
at my side
When to use it: Say this when a thing is next to you.
Learn it as one piece for a thing at your side.
It's under the table.
below the table
When to use it: Say this when a thing is below a table.
Learn it as one piece for a thing below.
It's inside.
in the room or building
When to use it: Say this when a thing is in the room.
Learn it as one piece for in the room.
Say it: Stress the last part of inside.
It's outside.
not in the room or building
When to use it: Say this when a thing is not in the room.
Learn it as one piece for not in the room.
Say it: Stress the last part of outside.
Story — she waits at B7
Watch Ana look for the bathroom. Dee points behind the jukebox, but Ana waits in front of it.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Ana looks around near the door.
AnaExcuse me.you say this to get someone's attention
DeeThe bathroom, hon?She asks if Ana wants the bathroom.- AnaYes, please.yes, and you want that thing
- DeeIt's behind the jukebox.at the back of that thing
- Ana stands in front of B7 and waits.
- AnaIt's in front of the jukebox?ahead of that thing, at its front
- DeeNo, hon. Behind it.She wants Ana to go to the back.
MurrayWell, it's beside me.at my side- He points beside the pie case. Ana looks under a stool.
- AnaIt's under the table?below the table
- MurrayNo. It's inside.in the room or building
- AnaIt's outside?not in the room or building
- DeeIt's inside, hon.in the room or building
- AnaThank you.you say this when someone helps you
Practice — where is it
A short set of exercises waits here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay small, so you can move fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
It's in front of ___.Drop the Simple English hereIt's behind ___.Drop the Simple English hereIt's inside.Drop the Simple English hereIt's outside.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
Someone asks where the bathroom is. It is at the back of the jukebox.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
It's beside me.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
below the table
It's ____ the table.
Build the line
Build the line
at my side
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Murray says:
Pick the reply
Is the bathroom outside?
He asks if the bathroom is not in the diner.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
The food truck is on the street, not in the diner.
It's ____.
Pick the reply
Dee says:
Pick the reply
The bathroom, hon?
She asks if you want the bathroom.
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want Dee to look at you. She is busy with the coffee pot.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Say it — say the place
Now you're Ana at the Blue Plate. You need the bathroom. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- DeeWhere's the bathroom, hon?She asks where the bathroom is.
- Ana (you)Tell her it is at the back of the jukebox.
Tell her it is at the back of the jukebox.
It's behind ___.
at the back of that thing
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| It's in front of ___. | ahead of that thing, at its front | |
| It's behind ___. | at the back of that thing | |
| It's beside me. | at my side | |
| It's under the table. | below the table | |
| It's inside. | in the room or building | |
| It's outside. | not in the room or building |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these place words handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps in front, behind, and beside ready.
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