Want to make plans, set appointments, or talk about your schedule? Prepositions of time like at, on, and in are the essential words you need to say exactly WHEN something happens. Learning how to use them correctly will make your communication clear and effective. ⏰
Function & Usage
We use these small words to specify a point in time. The one you choose depends on how general or specific you want to be.
- AT (Very Specific): Used for exact times and specific points in the day.
Example: The meeting is at 3 PM. I’ll see you at lunchtime. We finish work at sunset. - ON (Less Specific): Used for days of the week and specific dates.
Example: The party is on Friday. My birthday is on October 25th. - IN (General): Used for longer, non-specific periods of time like months, years, seasons, and decades.
Example: My vacation is in July. He was born in 1998. I love to ski in the winter.
The Structure (Form)
Think of it like an upside-down pyramid, going from the most general (in) to the most specific (at).
| Preposition | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| in | Centuries, Decades, Years, Seasons, Months | in the 90s, in 2025, in summer, in July |
| on | Days, Dates, Specific Days | on Monday, on October 25th, on my birthday |
| at | Times, Specific moments | at 9:00 AM, at noon, at night |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing “in the morning” vs. “on Monday morning”: We say `in the morning`, `in the afternoon`, etc. But when you add a specific day, it changes to `on`. Incorrect: “The meeting is in Friday morning.” Correct: “The meeting is on Friday morning.”
- Leaving out the preposition: Don’t forget to include the preposition. Incorrect: “I’ll see you Monday.” (This is common in casual speaking but is grammatically incorrect). Correct: “I’ll see you on Monday.”
Let’s see it in action! 🎬
Person A: Let’s have coffee this week. Are you free on Wednesday?
Person B: Yes, I am! I finish work at 4 PM.
Person A: When is your birthday?
Person B: It’s in December. The exact date is on the 15th.
Speaker: This company was founded in 1985. We have a big celebration every year in the summer, usually on the last Friday in August.
Check Your Understanding! ✅
1. The movie starts 8:00 PM.
2. My birthday is May.
3. I have an appointment Tuesday morning.
4. He was born 2001.
5. Let’s meet for lunch noon.
6. I will see you ___ Friday.
7. The train leaves ___ ten minutes.
8. We always have a big family dinner ___ Christmas Day.
9. I like to go to the beach ___ the summer.
10. She usually wakes up ___ sunrise.
