Prepositions of time

Beginner (A1)en

Prepositions of time (in / on / at)

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. The Three Most Important Time Prepositions

IN
Use in for:

months
years
seasons
parts of the day (except night)

Examples:

in January
in 2025
in summer
in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening

Sentence:

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

ON
Use on for:

days
dates

Examples:

on Monday
on Friday morning
on 25 December

Sentence:

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

AT
Use at for:

exact times
night
specific moments

Examples:

at 7 o’clock
at night
at noon
at the weekend

Sentence:

We eat dinner at 7 o’clock.
He studies at night.
I take a break at noon.
Let’s meet at the weekend.

3. Quick Comparison

in → long time
on → day
at → exact time

4. Other Common Time Prepositions

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 to 5.

5. Easy Way to Remember

IN → long time (months, years, seasons)
ON → days and dates
AT → exact time and night

Extra:

Last, Next, Every, This (No Prepositions)
Words like last, next, every, and this already tell us when something happens.
Because they give us the time, we do not use the prepositions in, on, or at with them.

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.

Practice Exercises

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Prepositions of time (in / on / at)

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Related Vocabulary

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Prepositions of time (in / on / at)

Prepositional of time

7 words

in

preposition

Indicates a position within a space or area.

The cat is in the box.

on

preposition

Used to indicate a position above something and in contact with it.

The book is on the table.

at

preposition

Used to indicate a specific time or place.

I will meet you at the park.

before

preposition

Used to indicate a time earlier than a specified point.

I always have breakfast before I go to school.

after

preposition

Used to indicate a time later than a particular point.

We will go to the park after lunch.

during

preposition

Used to indicate the time in which an event occurs.

I like to listen to music during my study time.

from

preposition

Used to indicate the starting point of a physical movement or the source of something.

I received a letter from my friend.