at/on/in a cemetry

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milan2003_07

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Hi,

Which preposition is correct in the following sentence:

"All the commandants of the Peter and Paul fortress were buried at/in/on the cemetry which is now considered to be the oldest one in the city"?

Could you also tell me in which contexts we can use all these three prepositions (if it's possible from a grammatical point of view)?

Thanks
 

bhaisahab

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Hi,

Which preposition is correct in the following sentence:

"All the commandants of the Peter and Paul fortress were buried at/in/on the cemetry which is now considered to be the oldest one in the city"?

Could you also tell me in which contexts we can use all these three prepositions (if it's possible from a grammatical point of view)?

Thanks
You can use "at" or "in", "on" is not possible.
 

emsr2d2

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First, note the spelling: cemetery

In BrE, we normally use "in" when talking about a cemetery but without using a proper noun.

He's buried in a cemetery in London.
We buried her in the local cemetery.

However, when it's a named cemetery, I would use either "in" or "at".

He's buried in Highgate Cemetery.
She's buried at La Cimetiere Pere Lachaise in Paris.

We don't use "on a cemetery".
 

milan2003_07

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You can use "at" or "in", "on" is not possible.

Thanks. So "at" and "in" mean the same or "at" can imply that a person is buried not on the cemetry territory, but somewhere nearby?
 

bhaisahab

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Thanks. So "at" and "in" mean the same or "at" can imply that a person is buried not on the cemetry territory, but somewhere nearby?
They mean the same.
 

emsr2d2

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Thanks. So "at" and "in" mean the same or "at" can imply that a person is buried not on the cemetry territory, but somewhere nearby?

No. You're either buried in a plot within the cemetery grounds or you're not. In the UK, you can't be buried outside a recognised cemetery (not necessarily in a churchyard of course).

Please note again the spelling of cemetery. You omitted the third "e" again in your post.
 

milan2003_07

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Thanks! I've omitted "e" by chance. I know that it should be "cemetery". Thanks!
 
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