Life
Pre-intermediate Unit 7a
Prepositions of time and place: in, on, at
at the
airport on
the midday
f light. C U
in August.
I U!
Presentation
Use the prepositions in, on and at to talk about time and place.
time
place
in
parts of the day: in the morning/afternoon/evening
weeks: in two weeks, in the second week
of August
months: in August
years: in 2012
seasons: in the summer / in summer
centuries: in the 20th century
when we mean inside something: in the house,
in the car
with towns, regions, countries, continents: in London,
in Texas, in France, in Africa
common expressions: in school, in a book,
in the front/middle/back, in prison, in hospital
on
days: on Saturday
dates: on 1st January
special days: on her birthday, on Christmas Day
surfaces of objects: on the table, on the wall
floors of a building: on the fifth floor
roads and water: on the motorway
types of scheduled or public transport: on the bus,
on the midday train
attached objects: the note is on the fridge, a leaf on a tree
common expressions: on a farm, on a train, on the plane,
on the phone, on the TV
at
times of the day: at 10 a.m., at midday
these expressions: at the weekend, at
Christmas, at New Year, at night
a point in a journey: We stopped at a pub for lunch.
events with groups of people: at a party, at a meeting
addresses: at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC
common expressions: at home, at school, at work,
at the front/back/side
in or at?
With locations such as buildings, we use in to emphasise the location: Hes in the library. (Hes inside the library.)
You use at to emphasise the activity that takes place there: Hes doing some research at the library.
TIP
In everyday English you dont normally include prepositions of time and place in the question form:
Say What year was she born? (dont say What year was she born in?)
Say What day is your birthday? (dont say What day is your birthday on?)
Say What time does it open? (dont say What time does it open at?)
Practical Grammar 2
1
National Geographic Learning
Pre-Intermediate Unit 7a
Exercises
1 Complete these sentences with a preposition of time (in, on or at).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
We like to eat outside
the evenings.
In my opinion, the motor car caused the biggest change
the twentieth century.
I was born
11.15
the morning.
the spring we like to walk in the park and smell the flowers.
Ill be with my family
New Year.
Ill be with my family
New Years Day.
President Barack Obama was born
1961.
I wont be at school
Monday.
Long hair was very fashionable
1973.
We always like to take a short holiday
April.
2 Where are these people? Write full sentences with the verb to be 1 a preposition
of place (in, on or at).
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
Hes at a party.
he / a party
they / the fifth floor
the tourist / Australia
the cars / motorway
my dog / the garden
Madge and Ron / their wedding
3 Which lines in this conversation need a preposition (in, on or at)?
Add any necessary prepositions. Then listen and check.
A: 7 I hope they arent late for the main part of the
A: 1 What time does the show begin? 3
B: 2 It starts
at
show.
seven thirty.
B: 8Oh! Theres a message my phone from
Felicity.
A: 3 When are the others coming?
B: 4 Theyre all meeting Felicitys house.
A: 9 Where are they?
A: 5 Are they coming her car?
B: 10 Theyre the building now.
B: 6 No, theyre coming the underground.
Practical Grammar 2
2
National Geographic Learning
