In, on, and at are all examples of prepositions that serve multiple purposes. Unlike some other prepositions, these three words are capable of showing a relationship to both time and place, depending on how you use them. If you’re slightly confused don’t worry, we’ll take a look at what prepositions of time and place are, and provide examples of these three words being used in both scenarios so you can see the difference.
In, On, At
What Are Prepositions of Time?
Prepositions of time simply show the relationship of time between two parts of a sentence. Prepositions are the words that connect these ideas together by explaining how they relate to each other in terms of time. There are many different examples of how this can work, but generally speaking, showing the relationship of time between two parts of a sentence usually refers to one of the following:
- Indicating an unspecific amount of time. (e.g. in)
- Indicating a specific date. (e.g. on)
- Indicating a specific time. (e.g. at)
- Indicating a time span. (e.g. from… to…)
- Indicating something taking place prior to something else. (e.g. before)
- Indicating something happening whilst another event took place. (e.g. during)
What Are Prepositions of Place?
These work similarly to prepositions of time, but instead of showing the relationship of time, they show the relationship of place between two parts of a sentence. Again, there are lots of prepositions that can be used for place, but here are some of the reasons you might use them:
- Indicating an enclosed space or large area (e.g. in)
- Indicating a surface or somewhere specific in a larger area. (e.g. on)
- Indicating a certain point. (e.g. at)
- Indicating position of something in relation to something else. (e.g. behind)
- Indicating position in the middle of something. (e.g. between)
- Indicating position with objects that are further apart. (e.g. near)
Examples of In, On, At (As Prepositions of Time)
In
In, when used as a preposition of time, is usually used to represent an unspecific amount of time or a more general time period that isn’t specific. Here are some examples:
- I like to swim in summer.
- I should be home in a week or two.
- John turned 18 in 1996.
On
As a preposition of time, on refers to a specific date. Take a look:
- I’ll be home on Sunday.
- Let’s go out to eat on Valentines Day.
- Jenny has to go to the dentist on the 15th Feb.
At
When used as a preposition of time, at indicates a specific time. The following are some examples of how it can be used correctly:
- Meet me in the park at 6pm.
- The movie starts at 7.
- Snow usually falls at Christmas time.
Examples of In, On, At (As Prepositions of Place)
In
When used as a preposition of place this time, in usually refers to something being inside an enclosed space of some kind, or in a larger space. Here are some examples to make that a little clearer:
- Tim was waiting in the car.
- Paris is located in France.
- The best food can be found in the centre of the city.
On
On, when we use it as a preposition of place instead of time, usually indicates that something is situated on top of something else, or somewhere more specific in a larger area. Let’s take a look at some examples:
- You should head to the theatre on Second Street.
- The apple was on the table.
- James was looking for a doctors office on Main Street.
At
As a preposition of place instead of time, at can be used to show a certain point. It is the most specific of the three prepositions to indicate a specific place. Take a look at some examples:
- You can find my office at 612 Made Up Street.
- I picked this book up at the library.
- I had to ask for a refund at the store.
As you can see, in, on, and at can all be used as prepositions of time and place. The key to remembering how to use them correctly is to ask yourself what relationship you are trying to show. If it is time or place, then you need to pick the correct preposition to use in terms of how specific you want to be. In both cases of time and place, in is the least specific, then on, then at is the most specific, so pick the one that suits your needs.
How to Use In, On, At Correctly
When it comes to using the prepositions of in, on and at there are certain things that you must keep in mind. It can be tricky for learners of the English language to get their heads around the use of the prepositions in, on and at but with this section, you will find it much easier.
We are going to be looking at what these prepositions are used for and the rules that you should consider when using them. This will give you much more confidence in forming sentences in your written and spoken English.
Prepositions of Time (In, On, At)
IN
The preposition IN is used for non-specific times, for example: years, months
In + Parts of the day
Prepositions examples:
- In the morning
- In the afternoon
- In the evening
In + Months
Examples:
- In January
- In February
In + Seasons
Examples:
- In (the) spring
- In (the) summer
IN + Years
Examples:
- In 1980
- In 1969
In + Decades
Examples:
- In the 1960s
- In the seventies
In + Centuries
Examples:
- In the 15th century
- In the 21st century
IN + Weeks
Examples:
- In a week
- In 2 weeks
IN + Periods of time
Examples:
- In the past
- In the next century
- In the future
- In the middle ages
- In a moment
IN + Holidays
Examples:
- In the Easter holiday
ON
The preposition of time ON is used for dates, days of the week and holidays with “day”
On + Days
Examples:
- On Monday
- On Thursday
- On Sunday
On + Dates
Examples:
- On April 3rd
- On 1st January 2013
- On the 10th
- On the first day
On + Holidays with “day”
Examples:
- On New Year’s day
- On Christmas day
- On Easter day
On + Specific days
Examples:
- On my birthday
- On my wedding day
- On that day
On + Time
Examples:
- On the weekend (U.S.)
- On weekdays
- On time
- On a summer evening
On + Day + Part of day
Examples:
- On Sunday morning(s)
- On Friday afternoon(s)
- On Monday evening(s)
AT
The preposition AT is used for specific times and holidays without “day”
At + Hours
Examples:
- At 7 am
- At 12 o’clock
At + Parts of the day
Examples:
- At night
- At noon/ midday
- At midnight
At + Holidays without “day”
Examples:
- At Easter
- At Christmas
- At New Year
At + Time
Examples:
- At present
- At the weekend (U.K)
- At breakfast
- At the moment
Prepositions of Time IN ON AT
Prepositions of Place (In, On, At)
IN
For describing place, the preposition IN is used for the largest or most general places. You can say that “I lived in London as a child.” And “He’s a very famous person in Chinatown.”
In + Countries
Examples:
- In England
- In America
In + Cities
Examples:
- In London
- In New York
In + Neighborhood
Examples:
- In Manhattan
- In Chinatown
In + Enclosed Space
Examples:
- In a traffic jam
- In a building
- In a car
ON
The preposition of place ON is used for more specific places, like certain streets. You can say that “He took a northbound trolley on State Street.”
On + Means of transport
Examples:
- On a bus
- On a train
- On a plane
On + Communications
Examples:
- On the radio
- On the television
- On the phone
- On the Internet
On + Surfaces
Examples:
- On a table
- On a wall
- On the floor
- On the roof
AT
The preposition AT is used in the following descriptions of place/position
At + Exact Addresses or Intersections
Examples:
- At 23 Birch Street
- At 734 State Street
At + Specific Locations/ Points
Examples:
- At The Empire State Building
- At the corner
- At the bus stop
Prepositions of Place IN ON AT
In, On, and At | Infographic
How to Use Prepositions of time and place at, in, on correctly.
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