What are Prepositions of Time?

Prepositions of time are small but important words. They tell us when something happens.

In English, the most common prepositions for time are at, in, and on. Each one has specific uses.

When Do We Use 'At' for Time?

We use at for very specific points in time.

• Exact Times: Use at for clock times. For example, The meeting starts at 9 AM.
• Parts of the Day (Specific): Use at for night, midnight, and noon. For example, I often read at night.
• Holiday Periods: Use at for general holiday periods, but not specific days. For example, We visit family at Christmas.
• Meal Times: Use at for meal times. For example, Let's meet at lunchtime.

When Do We Use 'On' for Time?

We use on for specific days and dates.

• Days of the Week: Use on for any day of the week. For example, I have a class on Tuesday.
• Specific Dates: Use on for full dates, including the day. For example, Her birthday is on May 17th.
• Special Days: Use on for specific named days. For example, We celebrate on New Year's Day.
• Weekends (UK English): In UK English, people often say at the weekend, but on the weekend is also common, especially in US English. Both are acceptable.

When Do We Use 'In' for Time?

We use in for longer periods of time.

• Months: Use in for months of the year. For example, My vacation is in August.
• Seasons: Use in for seasons. For example, It often snows in winter.
• Years: Use in for years. For example, I was born in 2000.
• Decades and Centuries: Use in for longer historical periods. For example, Life was different in the 1980s.
• Parts of the Day (General): Use in for the morning, the afternoon, and the evening. For example, I like to exercise in the morning.

Examples

• The train leaves at 6:30 PM.
• I usually wake up at dawn.
• They have a party on Saturday.
• The festival starts on June 21st.
• We often go to the beach in summer.
• She will finish her studies in 2025.
• I'll call you in the afternoon.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make mistakes with prepositions of time because the Spanish word 'en' can cover many situations where English uses at, in, or on.

• Using in for days: A common error is saying in Monday instead of on Monday. Remember, for days, always use on.
• Using on for months/years: Another mistake is on July or on 2020. For months, seasons, and years, you must use in.
• Confusing at night and in the morning: Remember the specific phrases: at night, at midnight, at noon, but in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between 'at', 'in', and 'on' for time?

The main difference is specificity. Use at for precise times (e.g., at 3 PM). Use on for specific days and dates (e.g., on Friday, on July 4th). Use in for longer, less specific periods (e.g., in August, in 2024).

Can I say 'on the weekend' or 'at the weekend'?

Both are correct! At the weekend is more common in British English, while on the weekend is more common in American English. You can use either.

How are prepositions of time tested in the B1 Preliminary exam?

In the B1 Preliminary exam, prepositions of time like at, in, and on are often tested in the Reading and Writing parts, especially in 'Multiple-choice cloze' tasks (Part 5) or 'Open cloze' tasks (Part 6), where you need to choose or provide the correct word to complete a sentence.

Why do we say 'at night' but 'in the morning'?

These are fixed expressions in English. There isn't a simple grammatical rule, but it's important to learn them as they are. So, it's always at night, at midnight, at noon, but in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.