PREPOSITIONS OF TIME

In/at/on

Learn the rules that govern three prepositions of time – in, at, on. Then practise using these prepositions.

1. We use AT for times and certain expressions

AT 10 o’clock

AT breakfast time

AT the weekend

AT Christmas

AT the moment

2. We use ON for days and dates

ON Monday

ON Tuesday morning

ON 6 November

ON Wednesday afternoon

3. We use IN for longer periods such as months, seasons and years

IN November

In 1999

In winter

In the seventeenth century

We also use IN for parts of the day

IN the afternoon

IN the morning

IN the evening (but at night)

4. There is NO preposition before last, next, this, or tomorrow.

Did you go out last night?

We’re going away this weekend.

I’ll see you next week.

Can you text me tomorrow afternoon?

Complete the following conversation between John and David using in, at, and on (or no preposition).

 John     

What did you do ……….Christmas?

 David

 ………Christmas Eve I went to a restaurant with my parents. We all slept late ……….Christmas morning and then ………the afternoon we phoned some friends who live in Brazil. ……….eight o’clock my girlfriend came round. We didn’t do much ……….the day after Christmas - ……….the morning we just went for a walk. What about you?

John      

I didn’t see my parents ……….Christmas. They were ……….holiday.

David     

Did they go ……….holiday……….the middle of winter?

John    

Yes. ……….December 20 they went to Berlin. My dad has wanted to visit Germany for years, especially Berlin. He told me about the Berlin wall coming down, that for the first time………the late twentieth century Germans could go from West to East Berlin without travel restrictions. [phone buzzes] Ooops! Sorry, my girlfriend is on the other line. She’s ..........Beijing, China……….business.

David     

In China! Wow!

John      

Yes, last week she was in Japan and phoned me ……..the middle of the night, because she was confused about the time difference. Do you mind if I take her call?

David     

No problem.

John      

Can I phone you……….next week………Monday? It’ll probably be……….the morning……….about nine o’clock.

David     

Yes, that’s fine. I’m going to finish my geography assignment about the Amazon River in Brazil……….this weekend. I’m having to work a lot……….night……….the moment, but that’s OK because it’s very cold here……….night so I’m happy to stay at home.

John      

Really? So what’s the weather like where you are?

David     

Not so good, I’m afraid. It rains a lot here……….January, but this is England. It also rains a lot………summer. In fact, we didn’t really have much of a summer……….last year, but, surprisingly, it was hot and sunny.......... November. I think that global warming is having a big effect ………the weather.

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS BELOW

 John: 

What did you do AT Christmas?

 David

 ON Christmas Eve I went to a restaurant with my parents. We all slept late ON Christmas morning and then IN the afternoon we phoned some friends who live in Brazil. AT eight o’clock my girlfriend came round. We didn’t do much ON the day after Christmas – IN the morning we just went for a walk. What about you?

John   

I didn’t see my parents AT Christmas. They were ON holiday.

David

Did they go ON holiday IN the middle of winter?

John

Yes. ON December 20 they went to Berlin. My dad has wanted to visit Germany for years, especially Berlin. He told me about the Berlin wall coming down, that for the first time IN the late twentieth century Germans could go from West to East Berlin without travel restrictions. [phone buzzes] Ooops! Sorry, my girlfriend is on the other line. She’s IN Beijing, China ON business.

David

In China! Wow!

John   

Yes, last week she was in Japan and phoned me IN the middle of the night, because she was confused about the time difference. Do you mind if I take her call?

David

No problem.

John

Can I phone you (no preposition) next week ON Monday? It’ll probably be IN the morning AT about nine o’clock.

David

Yes, that’s fine. I’m going to finish my geography assignment about the Amazon River in Brazil (no preposition) this weekend. I’m having to work a lot AT night AT the moment, but that’s OK because it’s very cold here AT night so I’m happy to stay at home.

John   

Really? So what’s the weather like where you are?

David

Not so good, I’m afraid. It rains a lot here IN January, but this is England. It also rains a lot IN summer. In fact, we didn’t really have much of a summer (no preposition) last year, but, surprisingly, it was hot and sunny IN November. I think that global warming is having a big effect ON the weather.