AT ON IN Prepositions of TIME Easy English grammar

AT ON IN Prepositions of TIME Easy English grammar

Explanation + Extra Quiz

Understanding the prepositions at, on, and in when talking about time can be a bit tricky, but once you grasp the basic rules, it becomes much easier. Here’s a simple breakdown with plenty of examples.

1. At

Use: To refer to specific times.

  • Examples:
    • I will meet you at 3 PM.
    • The train arrives at noon.
    • Let’s have dinner at 7:30.
    • The movie starts at midnight.
    • She usually wakes up at dawn.

2. On

Use: To refer to specific days and dates.

  • Examples:
    • My birthday is on July 15.
    • We have a meeting on Monday.
    • They went to the beach on the weekend.
    • Christmas is celebrated on December 25.
    • The concert is on Friday night.

3. In

Use: To refer to longer periods of time, such as months, years, centuries, and seasons.

  • Examples:
    • I was born in April.
    • She graduated in 2020.
    • We like to go skiing in the winter.
    • He’ll be back in a few days.
    • The festival takes place in the summer.

Summary Table

PrepositionUseExamples
AtSpecific timesat 3 PM, at midnight, at dawn
OnSpecific days and dateson Monday, on Christmas, on my birthday
InLonger periodsin April, in 2020, in the winter

Extra Practice

Quiz: Prepositions of Time

Instructions: Choose the correct preposition (at, on, or in) for each sentence.


  1. The meeting is __________ 10 AM.
    A) at 10 AM
    B) on 10 AM
    C) in 10 AM
  2. We always go to the beach __________ the summer.
    A) at the summer
    B) on the summer
    C) in the summer
  3. I have a dentist appointment __________ Tuesday.
    A) at Tuesday
    B) on Tuesday
    C) in Tuesday
  4. She was born __________ 1995.
    A) at 1995
    B) on 1995
    C) in 1995
  5. The fireworks start __________ midnight.
    A) at midnight
    B) on midnight
    C) in midnight
  6. He likes to go jogging __________ the morning.
    A) at the morning
    B) on the morning
    C) in the morning
  7. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, which is __________ the fourth Thursday of November.
    A) at the fourth Thursday of November
    B) on the fourth Thursday of November
    C) in the fourth Thursday of November
  8. The museum is open __________ weekends.
    A) at weekends
    B) on weekends
    C) in weekends
  9. I will finish the project __________ the end of the month.
    A) at the end of the month
    B) on the end of the month
    C) in the end of the month
  10. They usually visit their grandparents __________ Christmas.
    A) at Christmas
    B) on Christmas
    C) in Christmas
  11. The conference takes place __________ March.
    A) at March
    B) on March
    C) in March
  12. She plans to graduate __________ 2024.
    A) at 2024
    B) on 2024
    C) in 2024
  13. We have to submit our reports __________ Friday.
    A) at Friday
    B) on Friday
    C) in Friday
  14. I usually wake up __________ dawn.
    A) at dawn
    B) on dawn
    C) in dawn
  15. My family goes camping __________ the fall.
    A) at the fall
    B) on the fall
    C) in the fall
  16. The movie starts __________ 7 PM sharp.
    A) at 7 PM
    B) on 7 PM
    C) in 7 PM
  17. I visited Paris __________ the spring of 2019.
    A) at the spring of 2019
    B) on the spring of 2019
    C) in the spring of 2019
  18. The seminar is scheduled __________ the first week of July.
    A) at the first week of July
    B) on the first week of July
    C) in the first week of July
  19. We are going to the party __________ Saturday night.
    A) at Saturday night
    B) on Saturday night
    C) in Saturday night
  20. The deadline for the assignment is __________ the end of next week.
    A) at the end of next week
    B) on the end of next week
    C) in the end of next week

Answers:

  1. A) at 10 AM
  2. C) in the summer
  3. B) on Tuesday
  4. C) in 1995
  5. A) at midnight
  6. C) in the morning
  7. B) on the fourth Thursday of November
  8. B) on weekends
  9. A) at the end of the month
  10. B) on Christmas
  11. C) in March
  12. C) in 2024
  13. B) on Friday
  14. A) at dawn
  15. C) in the fall
  16. A) at 7 PM
  17. C) in the spring of 2019
  18. C) in the first week of July
  19. B) on Saturday night
  20. A) at the end of next week
Scroll to Top