Lesson 22 · Stage 2: Everyday words: pronouns, articles, prepositions
Prepositions of time: at / on / in
BeginnerForm & use
at 7 o'clock, on Monday, in the morning / in 2020 — which word goes with which time
1.At, on, in — which one when?
English uses three different words for time: at for a small, exact point; on for days; in for longer periods.
| Preposition | Used for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | clock times, exact moments | at 7 o'clock, at 6:30, at noon, at midnight, at lunchtime, at sunset |
| on | days, dates, special days | on Monday, on 2 September, on my birthday, on New Year's Day |
| in | parts of the day, months, seasons, years, decades, centuries | in the morning, in July, in (the) summer, in 2020, in the 1990s, in the 21st century |
My English class starts at half past six.
My parents visit us on Sundays.
My grandparents got married in 1975.
It's really hot in Saigon in April.
Memory trick: picture a funnel — in is the widest (years, months, seasons), on is narrower (one day), at is the smallest (one moment). A date with a month is still one day, so use on: on 5 July, not in 5 July.
2.Phrases to learn by heart
- in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening — but at night.
- at the weekend (British English) = on the weekend (American English).
- at Christmas, at Easter, at Tet (the whole holiday period) — but on Christmas Day, on New Year's Eve (one particular day).
- at the moment (= now), at the same time (= together, simultaneously).
- at the beginning of / at the end of the month — see also the lesson “On time / in time, at the end / in the end”.
- Dates: British English writes on 5 July, American English on July 5; in speech people say on the fifth of July or on July fifth.
My dad works at night and sleeps during the day.
What are you doing at the weekend?
Families get together at Tet.
Sorry, I'm busy at the moment.
3.Part of the day with a named day
On its own it's in the morning, but when a day or date is named, use on: on Monday morning, on Friday evening, on the morning of 10 May.
I usually do yoga in the morning.
Let's play badminton on Saturday morning.
Do you work on Sunday evenings?
4.When to use no preposition
Don't use at / on / in before next, last, this, every, or before today, tomorrow, yesterday, tonight.
See you next Friday.
not: on next Friday
We went to Da Lat last summer.
not: in last summer
I go swimming every Thursday.
Are you free tomorrow afternoon?
In informal speech, especially American English, people often drop on before days: See you Friday. = See you on Friday. Both are correct; if you're not sure, keep on.
5.In + a period: how long from now
In + a period of time also means “after that much time, counting from now”: in ten minutes, in two weeks, in a moment. It can also say how long something takes.
The bus will be here in five minutes.
not: after five minutes
My cousin is getting married in two months.
He learned to ride a bike in one day.
how long it took
6.Common mistakes
I study best at the morning.I study best in the morning.
Parts of the day take in (except at night).
My sister's wedding is on October.My sister's wedding is in October.
Months take in.
The concert is in 20 May.The concert is on 20 May.
A particular date takes on.
We have a meeting on next Monday.We have a meeting next Monday.
No preposition before next / last / this / every.
The train leaves in 8:15.The train leaves at 8:15.
Clock times take at.
I'll call you after ten minutes.I'll call you in ten minutes.
“That long from now” uses in.
Examples
- The film starts at 8 o'clock.
- My birthday is in July.
- We moved to Da Nang in 2019.
- The shop closes at midnight.
