How to use IN, ON, AT for time and place

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Prepositions Pro Challenge

Which one is correct?

  • I’ll see you in December.
  • I’ll see you on December.
  • I’ll see you at December.

The correct answer is: I’ll see you in December.

But if we add a date, then we’d say – I’ll see you on December 10th.

And if we add a time, then we’d say – I’ll see you at 9:00 on December 10th.

The prepositions IN, ON, and AT are some of the most common words in English – and also some of the most confusing, because the rules change depending on time or place.

In this lesson, I’ll show you exactly how to use IN, ON, and AT correctly clearly, and simply.

Download free PDF + Quiz

How to use in, on, at for TIME

Use in for months, seasons, years, and periods of the day:

  • in April
  • in November
  • in the winter
  • in the fall
  • in 2021
  • in 1947
  • in the 1800s
  • in the 1970s
  • in the morning
  • in the afternoon
  • in the evening
    (exception: at night)

Use on for days and dates:

  • on Friday
  • on the 4th of July
  • on my birthday
  • on Sunday

Use at for times:

  • at 9:00
  • at 5 AM
  • at half past six
  • at midnight
  • at 8:45

How to use in, on, at for time

How to use in, on, at for PLACE

Use in for cities, countries, rooms, buildings, and closed/limited spaces:

  • in New York City
  • in Spain
  • in the bathroom
  • in a restaurant
  • in a bus
  • in a neighborhood

Use on for streets and surfaces:

  • on Main Street
  • on Oakwood Avenue
  • on interstate 85 (a highway)
  • on the table
  • on the wall
  • on the floor

Use at for points and contexts:

  • at the bus stop
  • at work
  • at school

In, on, at: Summary Chart

TIME

PLACE

IN

 Months

  • In January
  • In October

Seasons

  • In the summer
  • In the spring

Years

  • In 2004
  • In 1986

Periods of the day

  • In the morning
  • In the evening

(exception: at night)

 Cities and countries

  • In Tokyo
  • In Japan

Rooms and buildings

  • In the kitchen
  • In the supermarket

Closed spaces

  • In the car
  • In a park

 

 

TIME

PLACE

ON

 Dates and days

  • On Monday
  • On February 14th
 Streets

  • On Market Street
  • On Route 6

Mass public transportation

  • On the bus
  • On a train
  • On a plane

A surface

  • On the table
  • On the wall

 

TIME

PLACE

AT

 Times

  • At 6:00
  • At half past three
  • At noon
 Points

  • At the bus stop

Contexts

  • At school
  • At work
  • At a party

See more examples of in, on, and at

Try the quiz below to test your understanding of when to use in, on, and at!


In, On, or At?

Congratulations - you have completed In, On, or At?. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%
Your answers are highlighted below.
Question 1
Why are your clothes ______ the floor? Please pick them up and put them away!
A
on
B
in
C
at
Question 2
When you called me, I was ______ a taxi ______ Main Street.
A
in / in
B
on / at
C
in / on
Question 3
Many Brazilians drink coffee both ______ the morning and ______ night.
A
at / on
B
in / at
C
on / in
Question 4
My mother's birthday is ______ May.
A
on
B
at
C
in
Question 5
"Are you working right now?"

"No, I'm ______ home."

A
at
B
on
C
in
Question 6
I lost my wallet ______ a museum ______ Berlin.
A
in / in
B
in / at
C
at / at
Question 7
"Where's my hairbrush?"

"It's ______ the bathroom."

A
in
B
on
C
at
Question 8
My sister's arriving ______ the earliest train tomorrow morning.
A
at
B
on
C
in
Question 9
I'll start my new job ______ March 1st.
A
on
B
at
C
in
Question 10
We're going to a baseball game ______ Saturday. Do you want to come?
A
on
B
in
C
at
Question 11
Does your class end ______ 7:30 or 8:00?
A
on
B
at
C
in
Question 12
My cousin lives ______ Australia.
A
in
B
on
C
at
Question 13
There's a meeting with the project team ______ June 23 ______ the afternoon.
A
on / in
B
in / at
C
on / on
Question 14
I like to go skiing ______ the winter.
A
at
B
in
C
on
Question 15
My son is waiting for me to pick him up ______ the bus stop.
A
on
B
in
C
at
Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results
There are 15 questions to complete.

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