at the canteen vs in the canteen

Both 'at the canteen' and 'in the canteen' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'At the canteen' is used to indicate a location or direction, while 'in the canteen' is used to describe being inside the canteen.

Last updated: April 13, 2024 • 2692 views

at the canteen

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a location or direction.

This phrase is used to indicate someone's presence or movement towards the canteen.

Examples:

Let's meet at the canteen for lunch.
I saw him waiting at the canteen entrance.
She left her bag at the canteen table.

Show examples from the web [+]

Feb 24, 2013 ... [Grammar] in/at the canteen ; angelene001 · Mar 21, 2012 · #1 ; Grumpy · Aug 12, 2009 · #2 ; 5jj · Oct 14, 2010 · #3.
eg, we buy food at the canteen. This is probably a case of idiomatic usage. For example, you would probably say in answer to a question "I ...
Cocktails and Chicken Dish at The Canteen Restaurant in Century Square ... ourdoor pingpong at the canteen bar and restaurant in college station.

Alternatives:

near the canteen
by the canteen
next to the canteen
outside the canteen
around the canteen

in the canteen

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe being inside the canteen.

This phrase is used to describe someone's location or activity inside the canteen.

Examples:

There are many students in the canteen.
He is having lunch in the canteen.
She left her bag in the canteen.

Show examples from the web [+]

Because they are in the canteen when they are eating their food, but you can buy food at somewhere, or from somewhere, or (even) in ...
7 days ago ... I often see the boss eating his lunch by himself in the canteen. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
The burden of conveyor belt work in the canteen kitchen: A question of working height? Work. 2022;73(3):881-894. doi: 10.3233/WOR-205170.
Esperanza wants to eat in the canteen because she thinks the kids are special for eating there. She also feels a bit lonely at lunch and too lazy to walk ...
Esperanza envies the kids who get to eat lunch in the canteen at school instead of having to go home for lunch. She pesters her mother to write her a note ...

Alternatives:

inside the canteen
within the canteen
indoors at the canteen
at a table in the canteen
eating at the canteen

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