Prepositions of Time – In, On, At

Prepositions of time are small but essential words that help us describe when something happens. The three most commonly used prepositions of time are “in,” “on,” and “at.”

English learners often confuse these prepositions, but understanding how to use them correctly will improve both spoken and written communication.

How to Use “In, On, At” – Grammar Rules and Explanations

1. “In” – Used for Longer Periods of Time

The preposition “in” is used when talking about longer time periods, such as months, years, centuries, and general parts of the day.

Rules for “In”:

• Use “in” for months
• Use “in” for years
• Use “in” for centuries
• Use “in” for long periods (seasons, decades, eras)
• Use “in” for parts of the day

Examples:

• In a month → “My birthday is in July.”
• In a year → “She was born in 1995.”
• In a century → “That castle was built in the 18th century.”
• In a decade → “Technology changed a lot in the 2000s.”
• In a season → “We go on vacation in summer.”
• In a part of the day → “I usually work out in the morning.”

2. “On” – Used for Specific Days and Dates

The preposition “on” is used for specific dates, days, and special occasions.

Rules for “On”:

• Use “on” for days of the week
• Use “on” for specific dates
• Use “on” for holidays with “day”
• Use “on” for specific parts of a day with “day”

Examples:

• On a day of the week → “We have a meeting on Monday.”
• On a specific date → “She was born on April 3rd.”
• On a holiday (with “day”) → “I visited my family on Christmas Day.”
• On a specific part of a day (with “day”) → “We had lunch on Sunday afternoon.”

3. “At” – Used for Exact Times and Specific Points in Time

The preposition “at” is used when talking about exact times and specific moments in time.

Rules for “At”:

• Use “at” for exact clock times
• Use “at” for specific moments in a day
• Use “at” for holidays without “day”
• Use “at” for festive periods or time markers

Examples:

• At an exact time → “The train leaves at 6:30 PM.”
• At a specific moment of the day → “I always feel sleepy at night.”
• At a holiday (without “day”) → “We visited them at Christmas.”
• At a festive period → “Shops are very busy at New Year.”

In, On, At – Summary Chart

Common Expressions Using “In, On, At”

With “In”

• In the morning → “I drink coffee in the morning.”
• In the 21st century → “The internet became popular in the 21st century.”
• In a few minutes → “I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
• In the past → “People traveled by horses in the past.”
• In the future → “Technology will change a lot in the future.”

With “On”

• On the weekend → “We usually relax on the weekend.”
• On my birthday → “I got a gift on my birthday.”
• On New Year’s Eve → “They had a big party on New Year’s Eve.”
• On a holiday → “Shops are usually closed on Christmas Day.”
• On Friday night → “We went to a concert on Friday night.”

With “At”

• At night → “I like reading at night.”
• At the moment → “She is busy at the moment.”
• At midnight → “The fireworks started at midnight.”
• At sunrise → “We started our hike at sunrise.”
• At lunchtime → “Let’s meet at lunchtime for a quick coffee.”

Using Prepositions of Time in Conversations

Example 1: Making Plans

A: When is the next meeting?
B: It’s on Tuesday at 3 PM.

Example 2: Talking About Birthdays

A: When is your birthday?
B: My birthday is in August, on the 10th.

Example 3: Asking About Holidays

A: What are you doing on Christmas Day?
B: I will be with my family at Christmas.

Example 4: Asking About an Event

A: When is the concert?
B: It’s in July, on the 5th.

Example 5: Scheduling a Meeting

A: Can we meet in the morning?
B: Yes, let’s meet at 10 AM.

Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Prepositions of Time

1. Which sentence is correct?

   • a) “She was born on 1998.”
   • b) “She was born in 1998.”
   • c) “She was born at 1998.”

2. Which preposition do we use for a specific date?

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

3. Choose the correct sentence:

   • a) “We have an exam at Monday.”
   • b) “We have an exam on Monday.”
   • c) “We have an exam in Monday.”

4. The train arrives ___ 5 PM.

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

5. I usually wake up ___ the morning.

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

6. My birthday is ___ September 10th.

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

7. The meeting is scheduled ___ the weekend.

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

8. The store closes ___ midnight.

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

9. We traveled to Europe ___ 2020.

   • a) In
   • b) On
   • c) At

10. He was born ___ the 20th century.

• • a) In
  • b) On
  • c) At

Quiz Answers

1. b) She was born in 1998.
2. b) On
3. b) We have an exam on Monday.
4. c) At
5. a) In
6. b) On
7. b) On
8. c) At
9. a) In
10. a) In