Identifying objects and describing their location are two of the most practical skills when learning English. This practice session combines both abilities through a simple but effective exercise: first, you guess what an item is, and then you describe where it is in relation to another object. This approach reinforces vocabulary and prepositions of place at the same time.
How does the guessing exercise work?
The dynamic is straightforward. An image appears, and you answer the question what's that? before checking the correct response. Then a second item is introduced, and once both are identified, a location question follows. This two-step format helps you connect naming objects with placing them in space.
In the first round [0:36], the items are:
The location question is: where is the apple? The answer uses the preposition next to, which indicates that two things are side by side. So the correct response is: the apple is next to the glass [1:18].
What about the second round?
The second set [1:30] introduces:
Here, the question where is the tree? requires the preposition behind, meaning something is at the back of another object. The answer: the tree is behind the house [2:15].
How does the exercise change with people?
The third round [2:27] adds variety by including a person. Instead of asking what's that?, the question shifts to who is that? This distinction matters because who is used for people, while what is used for objects.
- The person is a woman.
- The second item introduces a plural question: what are those?
The answer is those are fish [3:06]. An important grammar point appears here: fish is an irregular noun, which means it keeps the same form in both singular and plural. You say one fish and many fish — no added "s" needed.
The final location question is: where is the woman? The preposition this time is near, indicating closeness. The correct answer: the woman is near the fish [3:30].
Why are prepositions of place important?
Prepositions like next to, behind, and near allow you to describe spatial relationships between objects and people. Mastering them is essential for giving directions, describing rooms, or simply telling someone where something is.
Here is a quick reference:
- Next to: beside something, side by side.
- Behind: at the back of something.
- Near: close to something, but not necessarily touching it.
What grammar patterns should you remember?
Two key question structures appear throughout the exercises:
- What's that? / What are those? — used to identify objects.
- Where is...? — used to ask about location.
Notice the shift from that (singular) to those (plural). When the answer involves one item, you say that's a glass. When it involves more than one, you say those are fish. Keeping singular and plural forms consistent is a common challenge, so practicing with examples like these makes a real difference.
There is also a worksheet available for extra practice on these topics. Share your answers in the comments and keep building confidence with each exercise.
