Prepositions of time

Prepositions of time

In this grammar lesson tutorial for beginners’ learners would be able to Learn English Fast when to use Prepositions of Time IN ON and AT correctly. They would be able to define “Preposition” and tell the difference between each prepositions of time “in”, “on”, and “at” respectively. A preposition of time indicates when something happens. So, let’s get started.

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a small word before a noun or a pronoun.

Examples: in after

on to

at with

I am going to Thailand in March.

The prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and the other words in a sentence.

In this Grammar Lesson you will learn how to use the following prepositions of time – “In, On and At”

In

1. in + month

January, February, March, April, May, June

July, August, September, October, November, December

My parents spend vacation to Indonesia in November.

My birthday is in May.

2. in + season

Spring, summer, autumn and winter

fall

Paul often goes skiing in the winter.

I love going to the beach in the summer.

3. in + year

She graduated in 2012.

Sam Was born in 1997.

4. in + part of the day

in the monring

in the afternoon

in the evening

We go to school in the morning.

My friends play football in the afternoon.

On:

1. On + day of the week

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday Saturday

If the event is a unique (one- time) event, the day of the week is singular:

I have an appointment with my doctor on Saturday. (only next Saturday)

The post office is closed on Tuesday. (only next Tuesday)

If the event is a regular event, the day of the week is plural:

Example:

I have an appointment with my doctor on Saturdays. (every Saturday)

The post office is closed on Tuesdays. (every Tuesday)

2. on + date

We use the preposition “on” before a specific date.

She graduated on August 30, 2012.

He was born on the 1^st February.

Our final exam is on June 28^th.

3. on + special day

I had a party on my graduation day.

I visited my grandparents on New Year’s Day.

What are you doing on Thanksgiving Day?

at:

1. at + specific time on the clock

Our English class starts at 8 o’clock

The bank closes at 3:30 pm

The bus leaves at 7:30 in the morning.

2. at + festival / special time of the year

I visited Thailand at Songkran.

I’m going to see my best friend at Christmas.

But if we refer to a single specific day during a festival, we use “on”.

I went to church on Christmas Day.

I ate a lot of beef steak on Easter Sunday.

3. at – others

“at the weekend”

She is going to play tennis at the weekend.

“at the beginning of”

At the beginning of the conference, we talked about salary increase.

“at the end of”

At the end of the show, we went out for lunch.

4. at night / in the night

. “at night”

‘at night” refers to any night in general.

I enjoy walking in London street at night.

“in the night”

I woke up in the night.

She heard a loud cry in the night.