00 / Prepositions
Prepositions of time
Prepositions of time indicate when an event occurs. The primary prepositions used for this purpose are 'at', 'on', and 'in', each corresponding to specific time scales.
A1Beginner
01 / Overview
English uses at, on, and in to organize time from specific points to broad periods. At is used for precise times and specific points in the day. On is used for dates and specific days of the week. In is used for longer, non-specific periods like months, years, and seasons.
02 / Usage Rules
Note that we use at for 'night' but in for 'the morning', 'the afternoon', and 'the evening'.
| Preposition | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | Clock times and specific points | at 7:00, at noon, at night |
| on | Days and dates | on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday |
| in | Months, years, and long periods | in April, in 2024, in the morning |
03 / Examples
04 / Common mistakes
I will see you in Monday.
I will see you on Monday.
Use 'on' for days of the week.
The class is on 10:30.
The class is at 10:30.
Use 'at' for specific clock times.
05 / Practice
I usually wake up ___ 6:00 AM.
Show answer
Answer: at
Why: We use 'at' for specific clock times.
My birthday is ___ October.
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Answer: in
Why: We use 'in' for months of the year.
The exam is ___ Friday.
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Answer: on
Why: We use 'on' for days of the week.