Explanation
Exercises

🕒 At / In / On – Prepositions of Time

Preposition Usage Examples
At
  • Times of day
  • Mealtimes
  • Holidays (no “day”)
  • Fixed expressions
  • at 7:15
  • at dawn / at dusk
  • at breakfast
  • at Easter
  • at the start
  • at the end of the day
In
  • Months
  • Seasons
  • Years, Decades, Centuries
  • Long periods
  • Parts of the day
  • in October
  • in spring
  • in 2018 / in the 2000s / in the 21st century
  • in ancient times
  • in the afternoon / in the evening
On
  • Specific days
  • Dates
  • Parts of specific days
  • on Thursday
  • on 14 February
  • on New Year’s Day
  • on my wedding day
  • on Friday night

🚫 No Preposition with: last, next, this, every

Don’t use at / in / on with words like last, next, this, every:

  • ✅ I met her last night. ❌ at last night
  • ✅ We start the course next week. ❌ in next week
  • ✅ I have an exam this Monday. ❌ on this Monday
  • ✅ He calls his parents every Sunday. ❌ on every Sunday

📍 At – Specific Times & Expressions

Use at with times of day, mealtimes, and other specific points in time:

  • at 6:45
  • at 11:00 a.m.
  • at midnight
  • at lunchtime / at bedtime
  • at sunrise / at sunset
  • at the moment

Common expressions with at:

  • at the weekend: We relax at the weekend.
  • at Christmas / Easter: They visit grandparents at Easter.
  • at the same time: The two trains arrived at the same time.
  • at present / at the moment: I can’t talk at the moment. Call later.

🌳 In – Months, Seasons & Long Periods

Use in with months, seasons, years, decades, centuries, and longer periods:

  • in November
  • in the autumn
  • in 2005 / in the 1980s / in the 19th century
  • in the Stone Age
  • in the past / in the future

📅 On – Days & Dates

Use on with specific days and calendar dates:

  • on Saturday / on Wednesday mornings
  • on 1 April / on 30 August 2022
  • on Christmas Day / on Valentine’s Day
  • on my birthday / on New Year’s Eve

Parts of the day:

  • in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening
  • at night (exception!)

🚫 Last / Next / Every / This – No Preposition

With these words, don’t use at / in / on:

  • ✅ I started my new job last April. ❌ in last April
  • ✅ She’s flying to Paris next Friday. ❌ on next Friday
  • ✅ We meet for coffee every week. ❌ at every week
  • ✅ I’m busy this afternoon. ❌ in this afternoon
Exercises:
1
2
3

At / In / On – Prepositions of Time

Choose at, in, on to complete the sentences.
1 I’ll see you lunchtime.
2 She was born 1990.
3 The train departs 7:30 p.m.
4 We always go skiing winter.
5 He doesn’t work weekends.
6 The party is Saturday evening.
7 My birthday falls March.
8 They arrived Christmas Day.
9 The office opens 9 o’clock.
10 I like to relax the evening.

At / In / On – Prepositions of Time

Choose the correct prepositions of time (at, in, on) to complete the sentences.
1
I have to meet the clients ____ lunchtime.
A.
B.
C.
2
We usually go on holiday ____ August.
A.
B.
C.
3
The meeting starts ____ 9 o’clock.
A.
B.
C.
4
My birthday is ____ March.
A.
B.
C.
5
They arrived ____ Christmas Day.
A.
B.
C.
6
He reads the newspaper ____ the morning.
A.
B.
C.
7
The deadline is ____ Friday.
A.
B.
C.
8
She studies English ____ the evening.
A.
B.
C.
9
We often travel ____ summer.
A.
B.
C.
10
I go running ____ Monday mornings.
A.
B.
C.

At / In / On – Prepositions of Time

Complete the sentences using the correct prepositions of time: at, in, on.
1
I usually have cereal 7:30.
2
Trees lose their leaves autumn.
3
We exchange gifts Christmas Day.
4
He studies Russian the evening.
5
The office is closed Sundays.
6
They plan to travel July.
7
Our anniversary is April 15th.
8
We meet the weekend.
9
The train departs 7:45 Tuesday morning.
10
Dad comes home lunchtime weekdays.