pls check if this is correct sentence

[PROESL]

joey is visiting friends and family in the west coast this weekend

Joey is visiting friends and family on the West Coast this weekend.

The correct preposition is "on" because we use "on" for surfaces. The west coast is a surface. We say "on the coast" just as we say "on the beach" and "on the shore".

As Anupum said, if it were a city that Joey was visiting, then we would use "in". We use "in" for spaces that are restricted, have limitations, or boundaries.

Joey is visiting friends and family in San Francisco.

We use "at" for locations.

He's staying at Tom's place for three days, and then he's staying at his sister's place for four days.

in - places with limitations, restrictions, boundaries
on - surfaces
at - locations

[PROESL]

Originally Posted by Ann1977
Thanks!

But I took this to mean that it's all just usage, and ESL students just have to memorize it?

That's about the size of it Ann.

No, that's not about size of it.

in - places with limitations, restrictions, or boundaries - in the city or in the office, for example

on - surfaces - on the shore - on the waterfront - on the beach - on the wall, on the table, on the desk

at - locations, usually remote to some degree - at the bank, at the library, at the supermarket

at - number locations - at a good price - at three o'clock

[PROESL]

Anupum, I got quite confused with this problem one time.

"in" or "on"

I live ___ the Oakdale section of town.

I had an apartment __ the East End.

My sister lives ___ a street near the ocean.

My school is ____ Plainview.
My school is ____ Plainview Street.

I know what I would say -- but what I don't know is how to generalize a principle or rule.

Any suggestions?

I've posted some general considerations for "in, on, at". Here's a site that could be helpful.

Prepositions - The OWL at Purdue

Here's a consideration for "at" that I find kind of interesting.

laugh at
look at
aim at
stare at
point at
shout at
yell at
scream at
throw at
fire at
angry at
mad at
fling at


The preposition "at" combines with these verbs because what comes after "at" is a target of some sort.

There is a system to preposition use in English, though it often goes unnoticed.

[Ann1977]

No, that's not about size of it.

in - places with limitations, restrictions, or boundaries - in the city or in the office, for example

on - surfaces - on the shore - on the waterfront - on the beach - on the wall, on the table, on the desk

at - locations, usually remote to some degree - at the bank, at the library, at the supermarket

at - number locations - at a good price - at three o'clock

Ahhh!

That's why she lives on Washington Drive -- specifically, at 15 Washington Drive -- which is in Meriden -- on the west side of town.

Many thanks!

[PROESL]

Here are more considerations for "in, on, at": time and the calendar.

at three o'clock - time

on the weekend - on vacation - temporary times

on Sunday - on March 2nd - on Independence Day - specific days or dates

in March - in 2009 - in the last decade - in this century - in the 1800s - limitations in time - within areas of specified time

[PROESL]

Ahhh!

That's why she lives on Washington Drive -- specifically, at 15 Washington Drive -- which is in Meriden -- on the west side of town.

Many thanks!

You're welcome.

Yes, exactly! And that's why we say "It's on sale at a good price". The price is a number, or a location, on a number line.

[anupumh]

Thanks Steve.. I told ya, you are needed here, Thanks for answering my call...lol
Ann, I also should get some credit here..

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Ann1977
Ahhh!

That's why she lives on Washington Drive -- specifically, at 15 Washington Drive -- which is in Meriden -- on the west side of town.

Except that in BrE we would say "She lives in Washington drive..."

[Soup]

Hello Ann1977

What about?

• I live in the Oakdale section of town.

<contained area; i.e., a section inside the town>

• My sister lives on a street near the ocean.

<surface area; i.e., the house is located on a street>

• My school is in Plainview. <contained area>
• My school is on Plainview Street. <surface area>

• Crime is rampant on the streets of L.A. <surface>
• They were dancing in the streets. <contained>

• I was born in June.

<contained; i.e., inside the month of June>

• I was born on June 1st.

<surface area, i.e., the location of that date on a calendar>

[Soup]

My apologies. I didn't know there was a second page to this thread when I posted.