Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook

A or in?

19 Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether to use a or in, so we list
below common expressions using these two prepositions:

a casa

a scuola

a letto

a lezione

(at) home

at/to school

in/to bed

in class/to (one’s) class

a tavola

a destra/a sinistra

a nord/a sud/a est/a ovest

a colazione/a pranzo/a cena

a mezzogiorno/a mezzanotte

a 10/ 11 / 12 [etc.] anni

a metà

all’ombra/al sole

al bar

al ristorante

alla stazione

to the table [i.e. come and sit down]/at table

(on/to the) right/left

(in/to the) north/south/east/west

at/for breakfast/lunch/dinner, supper or tea

at midday/midnight

at ten/eleven/twelve [etc.] (years of age)

in the middle/mid-

in the shade/in the sun

in the bar

at/to the restaurant

at/in/to the station

in pizzeria

in discoteca

in città

in centro

in chiesa

in mensa

in camera

in bagno

in classe

in palestra

in caserma

in prigione

in ufficio

in piscina

in/to/at a/the pizzeria/pizza parlour

in/to the disco

in/to town

in/to the city centre

in/to church

in/to the canteen

in/to the bedroom

in/to the bathroom

in/to the classroom

in/to the gym

in/to the barracks

in/to prison

in/to the office

at/to the swimming bath