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In, On, At – Prepositions of Time

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Prepositions of time are the same words as prepositions of place, however they are used in a different way. You can easily distinguish these prepositions, as they always discuss times rather than places.

A preposition of time is a preposition that allows you to discuss a specific time period such as a date on the calendar, one of the days of the week.

Prepositions of Time

Generally, in shows the “largest” time, on shows dates and time, and at usually shows the “smallest” time.

English speakers use in to refer to a general, longer period of time, such as months, years, decades, or centuries. For example, we say “in April,” “in 2017” or “in the 21st century.”

Moving to shorter, more specific periods of time, we use on to talk about particular days, dates, and holidays . You may hear, “I went to work on Monday,” or “Let’s have a picnic on Memorial Day.”

For the most specific times, and for holidays without the word “day,” we use at. That means you will hear, “Meet me at midnight,” or “The flowers are in bloom at Easter time.”

Prepositions of Time – In, On, At

Examples:

  • Meet me at five o’clock.
  • I work all day on Saturdays.
  • He likes to read in the evening.

The following information will help you use prepositions of time (at, in, on) correctly

How to Use the Preposition “IN”

‘IN’ is used with…

Parts of the day:

  • in the morning
  • in the afternoon
  • in the evening

Months:

  • in January
  • in February
  • in December

Seasons:

  • in (the) spring
  • in (the) summer
  • in (the) fall/ autumn
  • in (the) winter

Years:

  • in 1980
  • in 1968

Decades:

  • in the 1960s
  • in the seventies

Centuries:

  • in the 15th century
  • in the 21st century

Weeks:

  • in a week
  • in 2 weeks

Holidays:

  • in the Easter holiday
  • in the Christmas holiday

Period of time:

  • in the past
  • in the next century
  • in the future
  • in the 10 years time
  • in the middle ages
  • in a few minutes
  • in a moment
  • in an hour
  • in 3 hours
  • in six months
  • in a year

How to Use the Preposition “ON”

‘ON’ is used with…

Days:

  • On Monday
  • On Thursday
  • On Sunday

Dates:

  • on April 3rd
  • on 1st January 2013
  • on the 10th
  • on the first day
  • on the last day

Holidays with ‘day’:

  • on New Year’s day
  • on Christmas day
  • on Easter day

Specific days:

  • on my birthday
  • on holiday
  • on my wedding day
  • on that day

Day + Part of day:

  • on Sunday morning(s)
  • on Friday afternoon(s)
  • on Monday evening(s)

On + time:

  • on the weekend (U.S.)
  • on weekdays
  • on time
  • on a summer evening
  • on a cold day
  • on my lunch break

How to Use the Preposition “AT”

‘AT’ is used with …

Hours:

  • at 7 am
  • at 12 o’clock
  • at 5 pm

Parts of the day:

  • at night
  • at noon/ midday
  • at midnight
  • at bedtime
  • at lunch time
  • at dinner time
  • at dinner
  • at lunch
  • at sunrise/sunset
  • at dawn

Holidays without “day”:

  • at Easter
  • at Christmas
  • at New Year

At + time:

  • at present
  • at the weekend (U.K)
  • at breakfast
  • at the moment
  • at this moment
  • at the same time
  • at that time

List of Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of Time with In

Here are some examples of prepositions of time that include “in”:

  • in the morning
  • in the afternoon
  • in the evening
  • in the summer
  • in the fall
  • in the winter
  • in the spring
  • in the decade
  • in the century
  • in the past
  • in the future
  • in (a specific) month (e.g. in August, in February)
  • in (a specific) year (e.g. in 2022, in 1999)
  • in (a specific) time period (e.g. in the last hour, in the next week)
  • in (a specific) part of the day (e.g. in the morning, in the night)
  • in a while
  • in the mean time
  • in the middle of something
  • in the course of something
  • in the duration of something

Prepositions of Time with On

Here are some examples of prepositions of time that include “on”:

  • on Monday
  • on Tuesday
  • on Wednesday
  • on Thursday
  • on Friday
  • on Saturday
  • on Sunday
  • on (specific date) (e.g. on June 1st, on January 14th)
  • on (specific holiday) (e.g. on Christmas, on New Year’s Eve)
  • on (specific occasion) (e.g. on her birthday, on the day of the exam)
  • on (a specific) day of the week (e.g. on Fridays, on Mondays)
  • on (a specific) day of the month (e.g. on the 15th, on the 30th)
  • on (a specific) day of the year (e.g. on Valentine’s Day, on Halloween)
  • on (a specific) time of the day (e.g. on the morning, on the night)

Prepositions of Time with At

Here are some examples of prepositions of time that include “at”:

  • at night
  • at dawn
  • at sunrise
  • at sunset
  • at noon
  • at midnight
  • at (specific time) (e.g. at 3:00 PM, at 6:30 AM)
  • at (a specific) clock time (e.g. at half past two, at quarter to six)
  • at (a specific) point in time (e.g. at the beginning, at the end)
  • at (a specific) part of the day (e.g. at bedtime, at mealtime)
  • at (a specific) moment in time (e.g. at the moment, at this time)
  • at the same time

Let’s look at the usage for in, at, on.

Prepositions of Time – In, On, At | Pictures

Prepositions of Time - In, On, At

Prepositions of Time - In, On, At

Prepositions of Time - In, On, At

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