in front of

Meaning

'In front of' describes a position that is further forward than someone or something else, or facing them. It can also refer to doing something in the presence of other people (e.g., performing in front of an audience).

Examples

• There is a beautiful garden in front of the house.

  There is a beautiful garden in front of the house.

• Please don't park your car in front of our driveway.

  Please don't park your car in front of our driveway.

• He was nervous about speaking in front of the whole class.

  He was nervous about speaking in front of the whole class.

• I waited for her in front of the cinema for twenty minutes.

  I waited for her in front of the cinema for twenty minutes.

• The teacher stood in front of the whiteboard to write the lesson.

  The teacher stood in front of the whiteboard to write the lesson.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He is standing in front the building.

  ✓ He is standing in front of the building.

  Always use the full three-word phrase 'in front of.' Do not drop the word 'of.'

• ✗ I parked my car in the front of the hotel.

  ✓ I parked my car in front of the hotel.

  Adding 'the' ('in the front of') changes the meaning. 'In the front of' means inside the front part of something (like the front of a bus). 'In front of' means outside, ahead of it.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The bus stop is right ___ the library.

  💡 Directly ahead of or facing.

  Show answer

  in front of

• She felt shy when she had to sing ___ her family.

  💡 In the presence of; facing.

  Show answer

  in front of