He lives in or at Madrid
He lives in Madrid
He lives at Madrid
I know that "he lives in Madrid" is correct, but I am not sure about "he lives at Madrid". Is it correct?. As I have always used "in"... But, I think I have seen "at" somewhere. What do you think?. Thank you beforehand.
16 Answers
In is correct. Because he is within a border (the city limits of Madrid) he is in Madrid. If he lives outside the city limits, he lives around Madrid.
The only time I can think of where you would use at is when you are describing a location. For example: he lives at the corner of 1st and Pine St. A location does not have an inside or an outside.
Sometimes either is appropriate such as an identifiable location that also has an inside: He live in/at that big ugly green house on Pine St.
I guess I disagree (with some of the things said, at any rate). The question of duration (time spent) is irrelevant (except insofar as the primary distinction can be inferred from the duration). When one says "at", it suggests a point in space (much like the Euclidian sense) and when one uses "in" it suggests an area (2 dimensions).
"On our way to Moscow we made stopovers at Paris and Istanbul." (I'm thinking of Paris/Istanbul as points along our route.) Alternatively, "We spent four days in Paris and two days in Istanbul." One could hardly spend two/four days at a "point". It is only reasonable to suppose that we traveled about within the cities (which makes them a collection of points).
Hence (I suspect) the reference to "duration". If you were there for an extended period of time, it is wildly improbable that you never budged from some spot. You arrived somewhere, went somewhere else for lodging, went (probably/possibly) somewhere else for dinner, etc. Thus, for you, your experiences/activities all occurred within the the confines of some city but are better (more accurately) described by reference to parts/areas/districts/neighborhoods of the city rather than the location as a whole.
The discussion has wandered (been expanded) a bit from your original question but "he lives at Madrid" is not what natives (would) say.
He lives in Madrid = correct
He lives at Madrid = wrong
He is in Madrid is correct.
I have always said in for location like that. i live in Texas. the contest will be held in Belton. but if you're talking about a store or something. like "i will meet you at Dillards". i will be at Hot Topic. yeah i think you get the drift. lol
Also, I am intrigued with the idea of "inside" and "outside" that had appeared during the thread.
And what about: I am at the department store?. Are you inside or outside?.
I think this is an interesting question.
Perhaps I am going to open a new thread with this new question. 
No veo ninguna problema con la explicación en tu libro. Me parece que es correcta -- al menos con respecto a estas situaciones, las que presenta aquí.
Thanks to all you.
Nicole, there is a mistake. I have realised that you have thought that important places could be anything.
When the author was talking about important places, actually, he was referring to important cities or towns, not a school or things like this. It is not strange that you were confused.
Yes, I was thinking: "at" is for a location. For example, the train stops at Madrid. Then it is a location, isn't it?
He went to college at Penn State. My son is in his third year at Widner Law School. (important places)
The second one has both in and at: In the the 3rd year - there is a border of time there while the At Winder Law School is being treated as a location.
If you said: He is (enrolled) in college at Penn State, you would be correct because college is a place with a border (though it is more of an intellectual border, a state of being which is also used with "in") while the Penn State is still the location.
Nila, I am more confused than ever. I am wondering if this is one of those things you just have to get a feeling for.
"At" is usually used to refers to a place where you have to stay for a short time, mainly, If it is not very important. The place is conceived as a point in the space.
Here are some examples I thought of:
He went to college at Penn State. My son is in his third year at Widner Law School. (important places)
As children, they stayed **at their Grandparent's farm all summer.** (longer period of time)
She has worked at the White House for twenty years. (example of both)
Either way, the good news is that people will understand you no matter which word is used, although it might sound strange.
And I should probably put my answers to comments all in one place. Sorry for repeating myself.
However, "at" is also used to refer to important places when they are on your way.
The plane landed at Paris on the way to Indonesia.
I would say you landed "in" Paris or you stopped "at" Paris. If you said: We landed "at" The Paris Airport, the airport is an in/at so the "at" would work.
Yes, I was thinking: "at" is for a location. For example, the train stops at Madrid. Then it is a location, isn't it?
Correct. Stops are locations without a boundary.
- So what separates an in/at place with one that only uses one or the other? Some places can be either an "in" or an "at". Basically if you are describing the place as a location, you use at: Pete is (currently) at the Museum.
If you are describing what a person is doing, you use in: Pete is looking at paintings in the Museum.
The in/at difference can clarify location: Pete is waiting in the Museum. (He is actually inside the building.) Pete is waiting at the Museum. (He is probably outside looking for his ride but it is vague so Pete could be either inside or outside the building. Treating the Museum as a point with no boundaries makes finding Pete harder.)
You may also clarify what you did at a location with both in and at - specifically if you went inside or not: I stopped in at the Knitter's Anonymous (building). (It must be a place that has an inside even if the person does not say it specifically. This phrasing shows that the person actually went inside the building.)
Yes, Nicole, perhaps you are right. But I need to contrast some information.
In the book I have, the following information appears:
"At" is usually used to refers to a place where you have to stay for a short time, mainly, If it is not very important. The place is conceived as a point in the space.
We stopped for one night at Wickled, a small locaty near Hull.
However, "at" is also used to refer to important places when they are on your way.
The plane landed at Paris on the way to Indonesia.
"In" is usually used to refer to a place when you stay in it for a long time and, mainly, when you refers to a city or an important place.
Oh, I have some friends who have lived in Wickley for years.
Then, I would like to contrast this information with you. What do you think?. Does it sound strange to you?
And what about "he is in Madrid" and "he is at Madrid"?
