Time: In, On, AtA1
At goes with clock times, on with days and dates, and in with months, years and seasons. The period gets longer from at to on to in, and next, last, this and every take no preposition: at 7 o'clock, on Monday, in July, next Friday.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA1
| Point | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | clock times, night, midday, Christmas, Easter | at 9:30 / at night |
| on | days, dates and a day with its part of the day | on Monday morning / on 5 May |
| in | months, seasons, years, morning, afternoon, evening | in January / in summer |
| Length | the period gets longer from at to on to in | at 7 o'clock / on Monday / in July |
| No preposition | before this, next, last, every, today, tomorrow | I'm busy this week. / I walk every morning. |
| Trap | dates take on, months take in | My birthday is on 5 May. / It's cold in January. |
| Trap | the weekend takes at | We relax at the weekend. (US: on the weekend) |
OverviewA1
- The period gets longer from at, to on, to in.
UseA1
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| at + clock time | The class starts at 9:30. |
| at + night, midday, midnight | I sleep badly at night. |
| at + the weekend | We relax at the weekend. (US: on the weekend) |
| at + Christmas, Easter | We visit my gran at Christmas. |
| on + day | I work on Mondays. |
| on + day + part of the day | See you on Monday morning. |
| on + date | My birthday is on 5 May. |
| on + a special day | We have a party on New Year's Day. |
| in + morning, afternoon, evening | I study in the evening. |
| in + month | It's cold in January. |
| in + season | We go to the beach in summer. |
| in + year | She was born in 1998. |
No prepositionA1
| Word | Example |
|---|---|
| this + morning, week, year | I'm busy this week. |
| next / last + day, week, month | We meet next Monday. / He called last night. |
| every + day, week, year | I walk every morning. |
| today, tonight, tomorrow, yesterday | Call me tomorrow morning. |
- Before this, next, last, every, today and tomorrow, the time word stands alone.
Typical errorsA1
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| The film starts on 8 o'clock. | The film starts at 8 o'clock. | clock times → at |
| My birthday is in 5 May. | My birthday is on 5 May. | dates → on |
| We relax in the weekend. | We relax at the weekend. | at the weekend (US: on the weekend) |
| It's cold on January. | It's cold in January. | months → in |