explanation of the use of prepositions of time in, on, at

1. Prepositions of Time
at, in, on

2. At
1. At a specific time:
• … at five o’clock
• … at half past three
2. At specific parts of the day or periods of time:
• … at noon / midday
• … at night
• … at midnight
• … at the weekend
3. At a festival:
• … at Christmas / Easter

3. In
1. In a specific month:
• … in January
• … in March
2. In a season:
• … in spring
• … in summer
3. In a part of the day:
• … in the morning
• … in the afternoon
• … in the evening
4. In a year:
• … in 1953

4. On
1. On a specific day
• … on Sunday
• … on Sunday morning
• … on Christmas Eve
• … on New Year’s Day
2. On a date:
• … on 2nd May
• … on the twentieth of June

5. Tips:
• To refer to a date, use the preposition
“on” before a day.
•
Eg. My birthday is on 1st January.
• To refer to a month, use the
preposition “in” before a month.
•
Eg. Mary’s birthday is in December 12th.

6. Exercise 1
Sam went to China ______ November
and came back _______ Christmas. He arrived
in China ______ the thirtieth of November
______ the afternoon. He stayed with Uncle
Joe ______ the twenty-third of December
_____ night.

7. Exercise 1 : Answers
Sam went to China __in__ November
and came back ___at____ Christmas. He
arrived in China __on____ the thirtieth of
November __in____ the afternoon. He stayed
with Uncle Joe __on____ the twenty-third of
December __at___ night.

8. Exercise 2
Cindy usually swims with her family ___
Sundays. They go swimming ____ eight o’clock
______ the morning. Every year she has a long
holiday ______ summer. She likes swimming
with her brother _____ the afternoon in the
summer holiday. It is fun.

9. Exercise 2: Answers
Cindy usually swims with her family _on__
Sundays. They go swimming _at_ eight o’clock
__in___ the morning. Every year she has a long
holiday ___in___ summer. She likes swimming
with her brother __in___ the afternoon in the
summer holiday. It is fun.

10. Exercise 2: Answers
Cindy usually swims with her family _on__
Sundays. They go swimming _at_ eight o’clock
__in___ the morning. Every year she has a long
holiday ___in___ summer. She likes swimming
with her brother __in___ the afternoon in the
summer holiday. It is fun.