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, 、および on. Each one has specific uses.

When Do We Use 'At' for Time?

当社では at for very specific points in time.

• Exact Times: 使用方法 at for clock times. For example, The meeting starts at 9 AM.
• Parts of the Day (Specific): 使用方法 at ～のために night, midnight, 、および noon. 例えば、, I often read at night.
• Holiday Periods: 使用方法 at for general holiday periods, but not specific days. For example, We visit family at Christmas.
• Meal Times: 使用方法 at for meal times. For example, Let's meet at lunchtime.

When Do We Use 'On' for Time?

当社では on for specific days and dates.

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

当社では in for longer periods of time.

• Months: 使用方法 in for months of the year. For example, My vacation is in August.
• Seasons: 使用方法 in for seasons. For example, It often snows in winter.
• Years: 使用方法 in for years. For example, I was born in 2000.
• Decades and Centuries: 使用方法 in for longer historical periods. For example, Life was different in the 1980s.
• Parts of the Day (General): 使用方法 in ～のために the morning, the afternoon, 、および the evening. 例えば、, I like to exercise in the morning.

例

• 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.

練習

スペイン語話者がよく犯す間違い

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

• 使用方法 in for days: A common error is saying in Monday ～の代わりに on Monday. Remember, for days, always use on.
• 使用方法 on for months/years: Another mistake is on July または on 2020. For months, seasons, and years, you must use in.
• Confusing at night そして in the morning: Remember the specific phrases: at night, at midnight, at noon, but in the morning, in the afternoon, 、および in the evening.

よくある質問

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). 使用方法 on for specific days and dates (e.g., on Friday, on July 4th). 使用方法 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, 、および 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, 、および in the evening.