Prepositions of Time: on, in, at, from to
USE
ON
1 With days
on Monday, on Saturday, on Christmas Day, on New Years Day
Well see you on Tuesday.
Note:
On Wednesdays means every Wednesday.
I play tennis on Wednesdays. (=I play tennis every Wednesday.)
2 With dates
on the 15th of July, on the 23rd of October
Im going to the dentist on the 12th of August.
IN
1 For months
in January, in December
My birthday is in July.
2 For years
in 1798, in 1983, in 1997
Guglielmo Marconi died in 1937.
3 For seasons
in the spring, in the summer, in the autumn, in the winter
Im always happier in the spring.
4 For periods of time
in the 1970s (1970-1979), in the 20th century (1900-1999)
I was at school with her in the 1980s.
5 For parts of the day
in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
(general)
Note:
We say at night and on Wednesday afternoon. (specific)
6 To talk about the future
Ill be there in an hour.
Ill be there in an hours time.
(Its 9:30 now. Ill be there at 10:30.)
Ill see you in a couple of days.
Ill see you in a couple of days time.
(Today is Monday. Ill see you on Wednesday.)
AT
1 For times
at 9:00, at 11:30, at midnight, at lunchtime, at dinnertime
The plane arrives at 10:15.
2 For festivals
at Easter, at Christmas
3 For expressions like
at the weekend, at the moment, at present, at once (immediately)
At the moment, hes looking for a new job.
FROM TO
To talk about the start and the finish of something, we use from to.
The shop is open from 9 to 6.
They have lessons from Monday to Friday.
In the same way, we say
Ill be at the hotel from Monday. (=Monday is the first day I am
there.)
Note:
We do not use a preposition with last, this and next.
Ill do it this week. (not Ill do it in this week.)
I saw her last year.
Well be on vacation next month.
1 Complete the sentences
Complete the sentences with at, in or on.
1 Im going to Jamaica Sunday.
2 Ive got an important meeting Thursday afternoon.
3 The bank is closed Christmas Day.
4 We have lots of parties Christmas.
5 The film starts 8 oclock. So, Ill pick you up 7:30.
6 Im busy the moment. Ill call you back a couple of
minutes.
7 They got married 1 oclock 12th of November.
8 Will people live on the moon the 21st century?
9 I was born the 29th of March.
10 I met her 1992.
11 Her birthday is July.
12 I prefer to go away Easter.
13 He came here Monday and hell go back a couple of
weeks.
14 I dont like to go out night.
15 The shops close 6:30.
2 Complete the sentences
Complete the sentences with at, in or on.
1 She was born 1982.
2 Are you free the weekend?
3 He plays golf Tuesdays.
4 Im in a hurry. Do it once!
5 I start university three months time.
6 He wants to be a film star but hes working in a hotel present.
7 Can you come to lunch Sunday?
8 These birds sleep the winter and wake up the spring.
9 Ive got an appointment at the dentists 12:30 tomorrow.
10 Theyre going to a concert the 4th of August.
11 In Sweden, its still light midnight summer.
12 Im sorry, I cant see him the moment.
13 Shell be her 3 oclock.
14 Can I see you lunchtime?
15 Tell him to wait, Ill tak to him a minute.
3 Complete the sentences
Complete the sentences with at, in, on or from to.
1 I work in a restaurant the afternoon.
2 I study night.
3 The train will arrive 1:30.
4 The plane will arrive 20 minutes time.
5 Im living in Zurich the moment.
6 The restaurant is open 3 oclock the afternoon 11
oclock night.
7 I work Monday Friday. But Im free the weekend.
8 Im free lunchtime. Shall we go and have a walk in the park?
9 The hotel is open February October. Its closed the
winter.
10 Ive got an exam 9 oclock Monday morning.
11 Youre reading question 11 the moment, but a few
seconds youll read question 12.
12 The twins were born the 19th of September. Tim was born
11:32 the morning and Jenny was born 1:30 the
afternoon.
13 Were going on vacation next week. a few days time well be
on a beach 10:00 5:00 every day.
14 Long hair was very popular the 1970s.
15 The school closes for a few weeks Easter.
16 Its late. Im going to bed. Ill see you the morning.
17 The coach will arrive 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.
18 Were having a party Thursday. Can you come?
19 I only work Tuesday Thursday.
20 Shell arrive in India 4 oclock in the morning.
4 Fill in the gaps
Fill in the gaps in the story with prepositions of time.
(1) the 1st of January every year I decide to stop eating
chocolate. But (2) the 2nd of January I start again! I love
chocolate. I eat it (3) the morning, (4) the afternoon, (5)
the evening and (6) night! I eat it (7) the spring, (8)
the summer, (9) the autumn and (10) the winter. I
eat it (11) lunchtime, (12) tea time and (13)
dinnertime. I ate it in 2005, in 2006
5 Choose the correct preposition
Choose the correct preposition in brackets and underline it.
Example:
Shell be her (at / on) 11 oclock.
1 I live in Spain (from / on) October (at / to) March.
2 Please do it (to / at) once.
3 Her birthday is (at / on) Christmas Day.
4 They always go away (at / in) Easter.
5 He always leaves work (from / at) 4 oclock (in / on) Friday.
6 Ill do it (in / at) a moment.
7 Do you want to go to the movies (from / on) Saturday?
8 Shall we go? (at / in) the afternoon or the evening?
9 I was on the beach (to / from) 9:00 in the morning (to / in) 5:00 in
the evening.
10 I never go to work (in / at) the weekend.
