By Paola Pascual on July 27, 2021
Does thinking about when to use IN, ON, AT, and all the other prepositions of time give you a headache? Then you’re in the right place! In this article, you will learn how to use them properly, from the basics to more advanced cases. Quick reminder! Becoming an effective communicator is not only about having spotless grammar. However, knowing the difference between IN, ON, AT, or knowing whether to use TO or FOR, might indeed help you become more confident. For now, let’s focus on when to use IN, ON, and AT. The preposition IN is generally used for longer periods of time (centuries, years, and months), ON is used for days, and AT is used for more specific moments, such the time. Here are some examples: Now it’s your turn to practice! Complete the following sentences with IN, ON, or AT:Prepositions of time IN, ON, AT (the basics)
- The meeting is going to start ___ 9:00 ___the morning.
- Our anniversary is ___October 17.
- We can chat ___lunchtime.
- I always end up working from home ___the evening.
- I was born ___1979.
- We usually have a business trip ___spring.
- ___ Mondays we try not to schedule any meetings.
- We met ___a cold and snowy day in London.
- The event is ___ 3:30 ___the afternoon – Shall we walk there together?
- He called me ___ midnight! Can you believe it?
NOTE: If you are currently taking an English course as a Talaera student, practice prepositions with these interactive exercises. For additional questions contact hello@talaera.com.
Time expressions without IN, ON, AT
Do not use IN, ON, or AT in the following situations:
With LAST and NEXT:
- We have a meeting next Monday.
- Next year we will go to the USA.
- We started this project last month.
- I saw him last Friday.
With THIS and EVERY:
- There was a big traffic jam this morning.
- This month has been very intense.
- Every evening I try to work out.
- I drive to work every day.
- We have a cool event this weekend.
Other time expressions that do not require preposition:
- Yesterday
- Soon
- Right now
- A long time ago
- An hour ago
- One month ago
- Today
- Today
- Tomorrow morning
- Tomorrow
- Yesterday afternoon
Now it’s your turn to practice! Complete the following sentences with IN, ON, AT, or X if no preposition is needed:
- I spoke to the CTO ___last Monday.
- We are leaving ___8:30.
- I met the new recruiter ___yesterday morning.
- Did you receive the email I sent you ___August 4th?
- Are you giving a presentation ___next month?
- I’ll probably be super busy ___September.
- ___ last week I worked until 10 pm ___every night.
- I hate waking up early ___the morning.
- ___today we need to find a better way to do it.
- The company was founded ___2011.
- The company was founded ___ March ___9 years ago.
- My father was born ___the 60s.
- I found out about it ___yesterday.
NOTE: If you are a Talaera student, practice prepositions with these interactive exercises. For additional questions contact hello@talaera.com.
Request more info about our English training
Advanced – Other prepositions of time
Apart from IN, ON, and AT, there are also other prepositions to express time:
From… to… Use this expression to express the beginning and end of a period.
- I work from 9 to 5.
- I’ll be in England from Monday to Friday.
For. Use “for” + a period of time to express the duration of an action:
- I’ve been working here for 8 months.
- I’ve lived in this house for 10 years.
Since. Use “since” + a starting point / a specific time to show when something started:
- I have worked here since 2018.
- They have been in the conference room since 10 am.
During. We use “during” + a noun to say when something happens:
- We met a lot of interesting people during the trip.
- He fell asleep during the talk.
Until. Use “until” to say when a situation ends. Here, we refer to the period before a deadline. “Until” is used to describe a state or situation in a period up to a particular moment.
- I’ll be in Korea until Friday.
- I worked until 11 pm yesterday!
- Let’s wait until they arrive.
By. Use “by” when we refer to a deadline. “By” is used to describe an action or event that happens on or before a particular moment.
- We need to submit the invoice by the end of March.
- I can do it by 5 pm.
Still not sure about the difference between UNTIL and BY? Compare:
- “I can do it by 4 pm” → At 4 pm it will be finished
- “I can’t do it until 4 pm” → I can’t start before 4 pm. I’ll start at 4 pm.
- “I can’t do it by 4 pm” → I won’t be able to finish before that time
- “I can do it until 4 pm” → I will work from now to 4 pm, and then I’ll stop, even if I haven’t finished.
One more exercise before we wrap up! Fill in the blanks with IN, ON, AT, FOR, UNTIL, BY, SINCE, FROM, DURING, or X if no preposition is needed:
- We are leaving ___ Tuesday ___the afternoon.
- I always go running ___Sundays.
- Please send me all the info ___Thursday afternoon.
- I nearly fell asleep ___the meeting.
- We didn’t do anything ___ Thursday ___Monday.
- I’ll be in New York ___a week.
- I’ll give you all the details ___the end of the week.
- She’s been the manager ___10 years.
- Let’s wait ___everyone is here.
- They said they would arrive ___ noon, but it’s ___2 pm and we’ve been waiting ___11 am and no one has come.
NOTE: If you are a Talaera student, practice prepositions with these interactive exercises. For additional questions contact hello@talaera.com.
Interested in getting the best offers and receiving free content on Business English communication?Subscribe to our newsletterand we will keep you in the loop with offers, free events, and development materials! For any additional information or questions, you can also reach out at hello@talaera.com.
Keep learning:
- How To Introduce Yourself Professionally – Follow These 3 Easy Steps
- 150+ Useful Email Phrases That Will Make Your Life Easier
- 101 Must-Know Transition Phrases for Engaging Presentations Online