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, et on. Each one has specific uses.

When Do We Use 'At' for Time?

Nous utilisons at for very specific points in time.

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

When Do We Use 'On' for Time?

Nous utilisons on for specific days and dates.

• Days of the Week: Utilisation on for any day of the week. For example, I have a class on Tuesday.
• Specific Dates: Utilisation on for full dates, including the day. For example, Her birthday is on May 17th.
• Special Days: Utilisation 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?

Nous utilisons in for longer periods of time.

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

Exemples

• 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.

Entraînement

Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Spanish speakers sometimes make mistakes with prepositions of time because the Spanish word 'en' can cover many situations where English uses at, in, ou 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 ou on 2020. For months, seasons, and years, you must use in.
• Confusing at night et in the morning: Remember the specific phrases: at night, at midnight, at noon, but in the morning, in the afternoon, et in the evening.

Questions fréquemment posées

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, et 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, et in the evening.