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Prepositions of Time: At, In, On

The document provides guidance on using prepositions of time and place in English. It explains that "at" is used for precise times, "in" is used for months, years or long periods, and "on" is used for days and dates. It also outlines the uses of "at", "on", and "in" for locations, noting that "at" indicates a point, "on" indicates a surface, and "in" indicates an enclosed space. Examples are given for different time and place prepositions.

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Tran Minh Ngu
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51 views

Prepositions of Time: At, In, On

The document provides guidance on using prepositions of time and place in English. It explains that "at" is used for precise times, "in" is used for months, years or long periods, and "on" is used for days and dates. It also outlines the uses of "at", "on", and "in" for locations, noting that "at" indicates a point, "on" indicates a surface, and "in" indicates an enclosed space. Examples are given for different time and place prepositions.

Uploaded by

Tran Minh Ngu
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Prepositions of Time: at, in, on

We use:

at for a PRECISE TIME in for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS on for DAYS and DATES in MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS in May in summer in the summer in 1990 in the 1990s in the next century on DAYS and DATES

at PRECISE TIME at 3 o'clock at 10.30am at noon at dinnertime at bedtime at sunrise

on Sunday on Tuesdays on 6 March on 25 Dec. 2010 on Christmas Day on Independence Day on my birthday on New Year's Eve

at sunset at the moment

in the Ice Age in the past/future

Look at these examples:


I have a meeting at 9am. The shop closes at midnight. Jane went home at lunchtime. In England, it often snows in December. Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future? There should be a lot of progress in the next century. Do you work on Mondays? Her birthday is on 20 November.

Where will you be on New Year's Day?

Notice the use of the preposition of time at in the following standard expressions: Expression at night at the weekend Example The stars shine at night. I don't usually work at the weekend.

at Christmas/Easter I stay with my family at Christmas. at the same time at present We finished the test at the same time. He's not home at present. Try later.

Notice the use of the prepositions of time in and on in these common expressions: in in the morning in the mornings On on Tuesday morning on Saturday mornings

in the afternoon(s) on Sunday afternoons in the evening(s) on Monday evening

When we say last, next, every, this we do not also use at, in, on.

I went to London last June. (not in last June) He's coming back next Tuesday. (not on next Tuesday) I go home every Easter. (not at every Easter) We'll call you this evening. (not in this evening)

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
1 ) AT - IN - ON

General Information:

AT

ON

We use at for a point: at the window - at the entrance - at the door

We use on for a surface: on the wall - on the ceiling on the floor - on a page

at the end of the street - at the station - at on a cover the top

Bill is waiting for you at the bus stop.

Have you seen the notice on the notice board?

IN

We use in for an enclosed space: in the garden - in the house - in London in the water in her bag - in a row - in a town

There is nobody in the room. She lives in a small village.

Special Information:

AT
1. We say that someone is at an event: 2. We say at with buildings when we saywhere the event (film, concert,...) takes place: Where were you yesterday? At the cinema. The meeting took place at the headquarters.

at a party - at a pop concert - at a conference - at a meeting Tom is at a party.

3. We say at someone's house:

We were at Bill's house last Thursday.

4. We say at for a place which is a part of our journey: We stopped at a very nice village. Does the train stop at Nashville?

ON

1. We use on with small islands:

2. We say that a place is on the coast / on a river / on a road: London is on the river Thames. Portsmouth is on the south coast of England.

She spent her holiday on a small island.

IN

1. We say in when we talk about a building itself. The rooms of Tom's house are small.

2. We usually say in with towns and villages: His parents live in York.

Note these expressions:

AT (bei)
at home - at work - at school - at university - at college - at the station at an airport - at the seaside - at sea (on a voyage) - at reception - at the corner of a street - at the back / front of a building / cinema / group of people, etc. - arrive at with other places or events

IN
in the newspaper - in bed - in hospital - in prison - in the street - in the sky - in an armchair (sit) - in a photograph - in a picture - in a mirror - in the corner of a room - in the back / front of a car - arrive in a country or town

ON (auf)
on a farm - on the left - on the right - on the ground floor - on the first, second,... floor - on the way - on the chair (sit) - on the radio - on television - on a horse - on the corner of a street - on the back / front of a letter / piece of paper etc.

2) TO - INTO - BY

TO

INTO

We say go / come / travel / fly / walk / return / drive / have been etc. to a place or event:

We say go into / come into etc. = enter a room / building etc.:

Last year we flew to London. We went to work at seven.

He opened the door and went into the room.

BY (mit)

We say by to say how we travel: We went to Paris by plane. I usually go to work by bike / by car / by underground / by bus

BUT: we say on foot we cannot use by if you say my car / the train / a taxi Then use in for taxis and cars. Then use on for bike / public transport.

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