Position Words

NCERT anchor: NCERT Joyful Mathematics Class 1 — Chapter 1: Shapes and Space (position and direction words)

• Use above, below, and beside to describe where things are.
• Compare the position of two or three objects.
• Follow simple position clues in a sentence.

1. Above and below

Level 1 (Verbal): A bird sits above the tree; a fish swims below the boat.

Level 2 (Symbolic): Object A above Object B means A is higher up.

Visual: Draw a kite above a house and a shoe below a bed.

2. Beside

Beside means next to, on the side of something — not on top and not underneath.

3. Chaining position words

If the sun is above the clouds, and the clouds are above the mountain, then the sun is also above the mountain.

Where is the kite?

Step 1 — Sentence: "The kite flies above the house."
Step 2 — Position word: above.
Step 3 — Above means higher up than the house.
Answer: the kite is above the house.

• A book is kept on top of the table. Is it above or below the table?
• A ball rolls under the bed. Is it above or below the bed?
• The cat sits next to the dog. Is that above, below, or beside?
• Stretch: If the sun is above the clouds, and the clouds are above the mountain, where is the sun compared to the mountain?

Revision tip: Point up for "above" and point down for "below" while saying the word.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Position Words.