Prepositions of time

1. What are prepositions of time?

Prepositions of time tell us when something happens.

Examples:

• in the morning
• on Monday
• at 7 o’clock

2. In / On / At

IN

Use in for:

• months
• years
• seasons
• parts of the day

Form:

• in + month/year/season: in January, in 2025, in summer
• in + the + part of the day: in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening

Sentences

• My birthday is in January.
• I was born in 2000.
• We have a holiday in summer.
• I study English in the evening.

Extra note

• We usually say at night (general time).
• We can also say in the night to mean “during the night” (more specific).
  • I woke up in the night.

ON

Use on for:

• days
• dates

Sentences

• We have class on Monday.
• She works on Friday morning.
• Christmas is on 25 December.

AT

Use at for:

• exact times
• night
• specific moments

Sentences

• We eat dinner at 7 o’clock.
• He studies at night.
• I take a break at noon.
• The movie starts at midnight.
• Let’s meet at the weekend. (more common in BrE)
• Let’s meet on the weekend. (more common in AmE)

3. Quick comparison

• in → months, years, seasons, parts of the day
• on → days and dates (and day + part of day)
• at → clock times and specific moments

4. Optional: Other time words

These words also talk about time, but they are different from in/on/at.

• before → earlier than a time
  • Please come before 6 o’clock.
• after → later than a time
  • We eat after work.
• during → inside a period of time
  • She slept during the movie.
• from … to → start and end time
  • I work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

5. Easy way to remember

• IN → months, years, seasons
• ON → days and dates
• AT → exact time and night

Extra: Last / Next / Every / This (no preposition)

These time words act like prepositions by themselves. Do not add in/on/at.

Correct vs wrong:

• ✅ next week / ❌ in next week
• ✅ last year / ❌ in last year
• ✅ this morning / ❌ in this morning

Examples:

• Last (the time before now)
  • She finished school last year.
  • We met him last weekend.
• Next (the time after now)
  • My lesson is next Friday.
  • They are traveling next month.
• Every (something that happens regularly)
  • I drink coffee every morning.
  • He plays football every Saturday.
• This (the time happening now or very close to now)
  • I am busy this afternoon.
  • We have a test this week.