Page 104 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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Throw to, shout to and point to are used when there is no idea of attack. Please do not throw food to the animals.
Could you shout to Phil and tell him it's breakfast time?
'The train's late again,' she said, pointing to the timetable.
Arrive is generally followed by at or in; never by to. WeshouldarriveatPat'sintimeforlunch.(NOT •••arFiIlt!ttlPat's...) When did you arrive in New Zealand? (NOT ••• ttl .vetil Zealand?>
For ill and illto. see 269.
at, on and in: place 1 at
At is used to talk about position at a point. It's very hot at the centre of the earth. Turn right at the next corner.
Sometimes we use at with a larger place, if we just think of this as a point: a stage on a journey or a meeting place, for example. Compare:
- The plane stops for an hour at Frankfurt. (a point on a journey)
She lives in Frankfurt. (somebody's home) - Let's meet at the club. (a meeting point)
It was warm and comfortable in the club. (a place to spend time)
We very often use at before the name of a building, when we are thinking not of the building itself but of the activity that happens there.
There's a good film at the cinema in Market Street. Eat at the Steak llouse - best food in town.
Sorry 1didn't phone last night -1 was at the theatre.
At is particularly common with proper names used for buildings or organisations. Compare:
- 1 first met your father at/in Harrods.
1first met your father in a shop.
- She UlOrks at Legal and General Insurance.
She works in a big insurance company. At is used to say where people study.
He's at the London School ofEconomics.
We use at with the name of a city to talk about the city's university. Compare:
He's a student at Oxford. He lives in Cambridge. At is also used before the names of group activities.
at a party at a meeting at a concert at a lecture at the match
2 on
On is used to talk about position on a line (for example a road or a river). His house is on the wayfrom Aberdeen to Dundee.
Stratford is on the river Avon.
But in is used for the position of things which form part of the line. There's a misprint in line 6 on page 22.
Who's the good-looking boy in the sixth row?
at, on and in: place 81
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