Mastering Prepositions of Time and Place: IN, ON, and AT
Prepositions are small but powerful words that help us express time and place with precision. Among the most common—and often confusing—are IN, ON, and AT. Understanding when to use each one correctly can significantly improve your fluency in English. Let’s break them down with clear explanations and examples!
Prepositions of Time
1. IN – Longer Periods of Time
Use IN when referring to parts of the day, months, years, centuries, and longer periods.
- In the morning
- In January
- In the 1960s
- In the summer
- In the past/future
🚨 Exception: We say “at night” instead of “in the night.”
2. ON – Specific Days and Dates
Use ON for days of the week, specific dates, and special occasions.
- On Monday
- On April 3rd
- On Christmas Day
- On my birthday
- On holiday
3. AT – Exact Times and Periods
Use AT for precise times, holidays without “Day,” and key moments.
- At 9 o’clock
- At midnight
- At Christmas
- At the weekend
- At the moment
Prepositions of Place
1. IN – Enclosed Spaces and Large Areas
Use IN when referring to locations inside confined spaces or larger geographical areas.
- In a box
- In a car
- In the garden
- In London
- In the kitchen
2. ON – Surfaces and Transport
Use ON when something is on a surface or in relation to transportation.
- On the table
- On the wall
- On the floor
- On a bus/train/plane
- On the page
3. AT – Specific Points and Events
Use AT when talking about exact locations, events, or points.
- At the door
- At the bus stop
- At school
- At home
- At work
Tips for Remembering These Prepositions
✅ Think of IN as being inside something.
✅ Think of ON as being on a surface.
✅ Think of AT as a specific point.
Mastering these prepositions takes practice, but with these guidelines, you’ll be able to use them with confidence. Next time you’re writing or speaking in English, test yourself—are you using IN, ON, or AT correctly? Let us know in the comments below!
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In Oxford Street? I believe most people would say ‘on Oxford Street’.
You can also say, ‘in the beginning’ and ‘on the weekend’ as well as, ‘at the beginning’ and ‘at the weekend’.
Thanks for your comment! You’re right when you mention the different possible uses of the prepositions. Unfortunately or fortunately, one shoe doesn’t fit all, there are a lot of English language variants across the world from British to American to Australia etc.