A1 · Grammar
Prepositions of time (in, on, at)
After this page you can talk about times with at, on and in, and you know that this, next, last and every take no preposition.
Rules
1.
at + a clock time
- The film starts at eight o'clock.
- Olga has lunch at half past twelve.
- Ben works at night.
- We're in Brighton at the weekend.
Use at with a clock time: at 7 o'clock, at quarter past ten. Use at also with night and the weekend.
at
- clock times: at six o'clock · at half past four · at midnight
- at night · at the weekend · at lunchtime
at + clock time: at 9 o'clock
at night, at the weekend
2.
on + a day or a date
- The museum is closed on Mondays.
- My birthday is on 14 June.
- Priya has a meeting on Friday morning.
- We visit my parents on Christmas Day.
Use on with days and dates. A day + a part of the day also takes on: on Friday morning, on Sunday evening.
on
- days: on Tuesday · on Sundays (= every Sunday)
- dates: on 3 May · on my birthday · on New Year's Day
- day + part of the day: on Monday morning · on Saturday night
Write a date like this: on 3 May. Say it like this: on the third of May.
on + day or date: on Tuesday, on 5 April
in the morning, but on Monday morning
3.
in + a month, a year, a season, a part of the day
- Sofia's birthday is in July.
- The new station opens in 2027.
- It's cold in Scotland in winter.
- I have English classes in the evening.
Use in with longer times: months, years and seasons. Use in also with parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.
in
- months: in March · years: in 2028
- seasons: in spring · in summer · in autumn · in winter
- parts of the day: in the morning · in the afternoon · in the evening
With seasons, the is possible too: in summer or in the summer.
in the morning, in the evening — but at night
in + month, year or season: in May, in 2030, in autumn
4.
No preposition: this, next, last, every
- Lucy is in Leeds this weekend.
- Ahmed has an exam next week.
- I see my grandmother every Sunday.
- Tom isn't at work today.
Before this, next, last and every you use no preposition. today, tomorrow and yesterday also have no preposition.
No at, on or in
- this morning · this year
- next Friday · next month
- last night · last summer
- every day · every evening
next Monday (not: on next Monday)
every summer (not: in every summer)
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