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Prepositions: At, In, On Explained

This document provides guidance on using the prepositions "at", "in", and "on" to express time and place in English. It explains that "at" is used to indicate specific times, days, and locations. "In" is used for periods of time like months, years, or days of the week. "On" refers to surfaces or linear objects like streets. Examples are given for how to correctly use each preposition depending on whether referring to time or place.

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99 views3 pages

Prepositions: At, In, On Explained

This document provides guidance on using the prepositions "at", "in", and "on" to express time and place in English. It explains that "at" is used to indicate specific times, days, and locations. "In" is used for periods of time like months, years, or days of the week. "On" refers to surfaces or linear objects like streets. Examples are given for how to correctly use each preposition depending on whether referring to time or place.

Uploaded by

francisco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

coffeeandenglish.blogspot.com.

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PREPOSITIONS  

AT,  IN  &  ON:  These  prepositions  are  used  to  express  time  and  place.    

TIME  

AT  
To  use  with:  
a. times:  at  five  o’clock,  at  half-­‐past  eight,  at  7.15…  
b. festivities:  at  Christmas,  at  Easter…  
c. precise  time:  at  lunch,  at  breakfast-­‐time,  at  dinnertime,  at  sunrise,  at  noon…  
d. some  expressions:  at  night,  at  the  weekend.  

IN  
To  use  with:  
a. parts  of  the  day:  in  the  morning,  in  the  afternoon,  in  the  evening.  
b. months:  in  January,  in  April,  in  September…  
c. years:  in  1980,  in  2008,  in  2025…  
d. seasons:  in  spring,  in  summer,  in  autumn,  in  winter.  
e. decades:  in  the  seventies,  in  the  1980s…  
f. centuries:  in  the  twentieth  century,  in  the  fifteenth  century…  
g. periods  of  time:  in  5  minutes,  in  an  hour,  in  a  month…  

ON  
To  use  with:  
a. days:  on  Thursday,  on  Saturday,  on  Thanksgiving…  
b. days  +  parts  of  the  day:  on  Friday  night,  on  Tuesday  evening…  
c. dates:  on  the  5th  of  September,  on  the  22nd  of  July…  

PLACE  

AT  
To  use  with:  
a. specific  places  and  points  in  space:  

 
coffeeandenglish.blogspot.com.es  

I’ll  meet  you  at  reception.  


She  is  at  the  office.  
Write  your  name  at  the  top  of  the  page.  
b. public  places  and  shops:  
Are  you  at  the  dentist?  
Let’s  meet  at  the  shopping  centre.  
I  studied  English  at  university.  
c. addresses:  
They  live  at  69  Dunham  Street.  
d. events:    
They  weren’t  at  my  party.  
Jim  and  Julia  met  at  last  year’s  conference.  

IN  
To  use  with:  
a. geographical  regions:  
Juliet  was  born  in  France.  
When  they  were  in  the  waterfall,  it  started  to  rain.  
b. cities,  towns  and  larger  areas:  
They  live  in  London  since  2009.  
Were  you  in  Central  Park  yesterday?  
c. enclosed  spaces:  
She  was  waiting  for  us  in  the  waiting  room.  
I  was  in  my  office.  
Are  you  working  in  your  father’s  farm?  
d. containers:    
Put  that  milk  in  the  fridge.  
There’s  a  book  in  my  bag.  Could  you  take  it  for  me?  
e. liquids  and  other  substances:  
Do  you  want  some  sugar  in  your  coffee?  
What’s  in  this  sauce?  It’s  tasty!  
 

 
coffeeandenglish.blogspot.com.es  

ON  
To  use  with:  
a. surfaces  or  spaces  considered  as  surfaces:  
Michael  was  on  the  first  floor.  
Are  you  going  to  hang  all  those  pictures  on  the  wall?  
b. roads,  streets  and  other  things  that  can  be  thought  as  a  line,  e.g.:  rivers:  
There  are  too  many  cars  on  this  road.  
The  shop  is  on  the  corner.  
New  York  is  on  the  East  coast.  

Exceptions  
There  are  some  fixed  expressions:  
 
at  home,  at  work,  on  the  bus,  on  the  plane,  on  the  train,  on  TV  

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