Exercise 1
Choose the correct preposition of time (at, on, or in) to complete each sentence.
Example: She was born ___ the summer.
Answer: She was born in the summer.
Prepositions of Time: At, On, In
In English, we use small words called prepositions to talk about time. The three most important prepositions of time are at, on, and in.
This is your very first lesson about prepositions. Do not worry — we will learn everything step by step. By the end of this lesson, you will know exactly when to use at, on, and in with time.
Look at these simple examples first:
- I wake up at 7 o'clock.
- My birthday is on Friday.
- We go on holiday in the summer.
Each preposition has its own rules. Let us learn them one by one.
Preposition of Time: AT
We use at for exact times and some special phrases.
Think of at as a very small, exact point in time — like a dot on a clock.
We use AT with:
- Clock times — at 3 o'clock, at 7:30, at midnight, at noon
- Night — at night (this is a special phrase — we say AT night, not "in the night")
- The weekend — at the weekend
- Special celebrations — at Christmas, at New Year, at Easter
AT — Example Sentences
- The lesson starts at 9 o'clock.
- I sleep at night.
- We visit family at Christmas.
- I play football at the weekend.
- The train arrives at noon.
Preposition of Time: ON
We use on for days and dates.
Think of on as a specific day — like a page on a calendar.
We use ON with:
- Days of the week — on Monday, on Tuesday, on Wednesday, on Friday
- Dates — on the 2nd of July, on the 1st of January
- Special days — on your birthday, on Christmas Day, on New Year's Day
ON — Example Sentences
- I go to school on Monday.
- Her birthday is on the 2nd of July.
- We have a party on Friday.
- I get presents on my birthday.
- The shop is closed on Sunday.
Preposition of Time: IN
We use in for longer periods of time — months, years, seasons, and parts of the day.
Think of in as something you are inside — a longer stretch of time, like a month or a season.
We use IN with:
- Parts of the day — in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening (but remember: AT night!)
- Months — in January, in June, in December
- Seasons — in the spring, in the summer, in the autumn, in the winter
- Years — in 1805, in 2024, in 1999
IN — Example Sentences
- I eat breakfast in the morning.
- We go to the beach in the summer.
- My birthday is in January.
- She was born in 1995.
- I study in the afternoon.
AT, ON, IN — Summary Table
| Preposition | Used with | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| AT | Clock times, night, the weekend, celebrations | at 3 o'clock, at night, at the weekend, at Christmas |
| ON | Days of the week, dates, special days | on Monday, on the 2nd of July, on your birthday |
| IN | Parts of the day, months, seasons, years | in the morning, in January, in the summer, in 1805 |
Important Differences and Special Cases
AT night — not IN the night
This is a very common mistake for beginners. We say at night for the general idea of night-time. We do not say "in the night" in everyday English.
- ✅ I sleep at night.
- ✅ The stars shine at night.
However, we say in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. Night is the only part of the day that uses at.
AT the weekend — ON Saturday and Sunday
When you talk about the weekend in general (both Saturday and Sunday together), use at:
- I relax at the weekend.
But when you name a specific day, use on:
- I relax on Saturday.
- I relax on Sunday.
AT Christmas — ON Christmas Day
Use at for the whole holiday period:
- We visit family at Christmas. (the whole Christmas period)
Use on for the specific day:
- We open presents on Christmas Day. (25th December only)
Common Mistakes
❌ I wake up in 7 o'clock.
✅ I wake up at 7 o'clock.
We use AT with clock times.
❌ I go to school in Monday.
✅ I go to school on Monday.
We use ON with days of the week.
❌ My birthday is at July.
✅ My birthday is in July.
We use IN with months.
❌ I study in night.
✅ I study at night.
Night is a special case — always use AT night.
❌ She was born on 1990.
✅ She was born in 1990.
We use IN with years.
❌ We play in the weekend.
✅ We play at the weekend.
We use AT with "the weekend."
❌ I eat breakfast at the morning.
✅ I eat breakfast in the morning.
We use IN with parts of the day (except night).
A Simple Story to Help You Remember
Meet Tom. Tom is a student. Let us read about his week.
"I wake up at 7 o'clock in the morning. I go to school on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. My English class is on Wednesday. At the weekend, I play football. I was born in June, in 2010. My birthday is on the 15th of June. At night, I read a book and go to sleep."
Can you see how at, on, and in are used? Read the story again and look at each preposition carefully.
Prepositions of Time: Quick Summary
Here are the key rules to remember:
- Use AT for clock times, night, the weekend, and celebrations: at 6 o'clock, at night, at the weekend, at Christmas
- Use ON for days of the week, dates, and special days: on Monday, on the 3rd of March, on your birthday
- Use IN for parts of the day (except night!), months, seasons, and years: in the morning, in April, in the winter, in 2005
- Remember: it is always at night — not "in the night"!
- Remember: it is always at the weekend — not "on the weekend" in British English!
A good tip: write these rules and examples in a notebook. Read them every day. Prepositions need practice and repetition — you will remember them faster if you write them down and use them in sentences.
Now practise prepositions of time in the exercises below.
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