English for Kids Step by Step: Asking for and Giving Directions ... - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to fill in the correct location prepositions for each sentence.

We are given these options:
next to, between, on the other side of, behind, opposite, in front of

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1. The post office is ________ the fire station.
Looking at the images: The post office (with envelope) and fire station (with flame) are shown side by side — likely next to each other.
→ Use: next to

2. The library is ________ the school.
Library (book icon) and school (clock building) — again, placed side by side in the layout.
→ Use: next to

Wait — let’s check if any pair might be “opposite” or something else. But since all pairs are shown left-right in separate boxes, and no map with streets is drawn, we assume “next to” means adjacent in the list or visually paired.

But look at #6: “The museum is ________ the parking lot and the movie theater.” That one clearly needs “between”, because it mentions TWO things.

So maybe not all are “next to”. Let’s re-express:

Actually, looking at how the worksheet is designed — each row has two icons: one on the left, one on the right. So probably, the first item is being described relative to the second item in that same row.

So:

Row 1: Post office (left) → Fire station (right) → They’re side by side → next to

Row 2: Library (left) → School (right) → Side by side → next to

Row 3: Coffee shop (left) → Park (right) → Side by side → next to

Row 4: Bank (left) → Hotel (right) → Side by side → next to

Row 5: Crosswalk (left) → Shopping mall (right) → Hmm… crosswalks are usually *in front of* buildings or *across from*. But here, the crosswalk image is a street crossing, and shopping mall is a building. Maybe the crosswalk is *in front of* the mall? Or *opposite*? Wait — actually, crosswalks are typically *in front of* stores/malls so people can cross to get there.

But let’s think differently. Maybe some rows imply direction.

Wait — Row 6 says: “The museum is ________ the parking lot and the movie theater.” This must be between, because it’s referring to two locations.

So perhaps only Row 6 uses “between”.

What about Row 5: “There is a crosswalk ________ the shopping mall.”

Crosswalks are usually *in front of* malls or *across from* them. Since “opposite” is an option, and “in front of” is also an option.

In many worksheets like this, if a crosswalk is shown facing a building, it’s often “in front of”.

But let’s see the actual image description (even though I shouldn’t describe it — but for reasoning): The crosswalk icon is a road with stripes, and the shopping mall is a big building. Likely, the crosswalk leads to the mall → so in front of.

Alternatively, maybe “opposite”? But “opposite” usually means across the street.

Since the crosswalk is part of the street leading to the mall, “in front of” makes more sense.

Now Row 3: Coffee shop and park. If they’re side by side, “next to” works. But sometimes coffee shops are *across from* parks. However, without a real map, and based on typical worksheet design, when two items are shown in adjacent boxes in a row, “next to” is safe.

But wait — let’s consider Row 4: Bank and hotel. Again, side by side → “next to”

Row 2: Library and school → “next to”

Row 1: Post office and fire station → “next to”

That would make five “next to” and one “between” — which seems odd. Probably not.

Maybe some are “opposite”?

Another idea: Perhaps the worksheet implies that the left item is located relative to the right item using directional prepositions based on common city layouts.

For example:

- Post office next to fire station → common in towns → next to

- Library next to school → very common → next to

- Coffee shop near park → could be next to or across from — but “on the other side of” is too vague.

Wait — look at the word bank: “on the other side of” — that might be used for something like a river or major road.

Perhaps Row 3: Coffee shop is on the other side of the park? Unlikely.

Alternative approach: Let’s assign based on most logical fit.

Let me try assigning uniquely where possible.

Only Row 6 can take “between” — because it has two objects: “the parking lot and the movie theater”

So:

6. The museum is between the parking lot and the movie theater. ✔

Now Row 5: Crosswalk and shopping mall. A crosswalk is typically in front of a shopping mall — you walk across it to enter. So:

5. There is a crosswalk in front of the shopping mall. ✔

Row 4: Bank and hotel. In many towns, banks and hotels are on opposite sides of the street. So maybe:

4. The bank is opposite the hotel. ✔

Row 3: Coffee shop and park. Often, coffee shops face parks — so opposite? Or next to? Let’s say next to for now.

But we already have “next to” used multiple times.

Wait — what if Row 1: Post office and fire station — sometimes they are behind each other? No, unlikely.

Another thought: Maybe “behind” is used somewhere.

Look at Row 2: Library and school. Could the library be behind the school? Possible, but not indicated.

Perhaps we should use “on the other side of” for one.

Let’s try this assignment:

1. Post office is next to fire station. (common pairing)

2. Library is next to school. (very common)

3. Coffee shop is on the other side of the park. (if park is large, coffee shop across from it)

4. Bank is opposite the hotel. (across the street)

5. Crosswalk is in front of the shopping mall. (leads to entrance)

6. Museum is between parking lot and movie theater. (only one that fits “between”)

That uses: next to (twice), on the other side of, opposite, in front of, between — all six words! Perfect.

Let’s verify:

Word bank: next to, between, on the other side of, behind, opposite, in front of

We haven’t used “behind” yet.

Oh no — we missed “behind”.

So one of them must be “behind”.

Which one could be “behind”?

Possibility: Row 2 — Library is behind the school? Sometimes libraries are behind schools.

Or Row 1 — Post office behind fire station? Less likely.

Row 3 — Coffee shop behind the park? Unusual.

Row 4 — Bank behind hotel? Possible.

Row 5 — Crosswalk behind shopping mall? Doesn’t make sense.

Row 6 — Museum behind... no, it’s between two things.

So perhaps change Row 2 to “behind”:

2. The library is behind the school.

Then Row 3: Coffee shop is on the other side of the park.

Row 4: Bank is opposite the hotel.

Row 5: Crosswalk is in front of the shopping mall.

Row 6: Museum is between...

And Row 1: Post office is next to fire station.

Now we’ve used: next to, behind, on the other side of, opposite, in front of, between — all six!

Perfect.

Final assignments:

1. next to
2. behind
3. on the other side of
4. opposite
5. in front of
6. between

This uses every word exactly once, which is likely intended.

Double-check logic:

- Post office next to fire station → reasonable
- Library behind school → possible (many schools have libraries attached or behind)
- Coffee shop on the other side of the park → e.g., park in middle, coffee shop across street
- Bank opposite hotel → classic downtown setup
- Crosswalk in front of shopping mall → standard
- Museum between parking lot and movie theater → clear spatial relationship

Yes, this works.

Final Answer:
1. next to
2. behind
3. on the other side of
4. opposite
5. in front of
6. between