Prepositions of Time (in, on, at)
Prepositions of time are essential in English as they help convey when an event occurs. Understanding when to use 'in', 'on', and 'at' can significantly enhance your fluency in spoken English.
Structure of Prepositions of Time (in, on, at)
Prepositions of time are used to indicate specific points or periods of time:
In: Used for longer periods such as months, years, decades, and centuries.
On: Used for days and dates.
At: Used for precise times.
On: Used for days and dates.
At: Used for precise times.
Examples with Explanations
'In' is used for years. The sentence indicates the year when the person was born.
'On' is used for days of the week. The sentence specifies the day when the meeting will occur.
'At' is used for precise times. The sentence indicates the exact time the concert will start.
'In' is used for seasons. The sentence tells us the season when the flowers bloom.
'On' is used for specific dates. The sentence specifies the exact date of her birthday.
Exceptions
While the rules for 'in', 'on', and 'at' are generally straightforward, there are a few exceptions:
Night
We say 'at night' instead of 'in the night'. For example, "I sleep at night."
Weekend
In American English, we use 'on the weekend' while in British English, it's 'at the weekend'. For example, "We go hiking on the weekend."
Public Holidays
We use 'at' with holidays without the word 'day' and 'on' with the word 'day'. For example, "at Christmas" but "on Christmas Day".