B116 questions

Prepositions of time and place: at, in, on

Use at for clock times and points, on for days, dates and surfaces, and in for months, years, parts of the day and enclosed spaces or cities. Use no preposition before this, next, last or every.

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How it works

Time: at + clock times and short points (at 7 p.m., at noon, at night); on + days and dates (on Monday, on 2 September, on my birthday); in + months, years, seasons and parts of the day (in May, in 2020, in the summer, in the morning).
A day + part of the day takes on: on Monday morning, on Friday night.
No at, in or on before this, next, last, every, today, tomorrow or yesterday: I'm busy next week (not in next week).
Place: at a point or a place where something happens (at the bus stop, at school, at work); in an enclosed space or an area (in the kitchen, in Da Lat, in Vietnam); on a surface or a level (on the table, on the wall, on the second floor).
Arrive in a city or country, arrive at a building or place: We arrived in Hanoi at midnight. Never arrive to.
Transport: in a car or taxi, but on a bus, train, plane or motorbike.
British English says at the weekend and writes 20 October; American English says on the weekend and writes October 20. Both are correct.

Examples

The class starts at 7:30 on Monday morning.
My grandparents got married in 1975.
I usually study in the evening and relax at the weekend.
We arrived in Da Nang at midnight.
Your keys are on the table in the kitchen.
Let's meet at the bus stop next Saturday.

Common mistakes

Wrong: I have an English class in Monday.
Right: I have an English class on Monday.
Wrong: I often drink coffee at the morning.
Right: I often drink coffee in the morning.
Wrong: She was born in 5 May 2002.
Right: She was born on 5 May 2002.
Wrong: We arrived to Hanoi late at night.
Right: We arrived in Hanoi late at night.

Practice

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Fill the gap.

Level: EGP Prepositions: at, in and on for time and place are A1–A2 forms, but choosing them with control (in the morning, on Monday morning, at night, arrive in/at) is still a B1 point for Vietnamese learners. Written for Gloss.

How it works

Time: at + clock times and short points (at 7 p.m., at noon, at night); on + days and dates (on Monday, on 2 September, on my birthday); in + months, years, seasons and parts of the day (in May, in 2020, in the summer, in the morning).

A day + part of the day takes on: on Monday morning, on Friday night.

No at, in or on before this, next, last, every, today, tomorrow or yesterday: I'm busy next week (not in next week).

Place: at a point or a place where something happens (at the bus stop, at school, at work); in an enclosed space or an area (in the kitchen, in Da Lat, in Vietnam); on a surface or a level (on the table, on the wall, on the second floor).

Arrive in a city or country, arrive at a building or place: We arrived in Hanoi at midnight. Never arrive to.

Transport: in a car or taxi, but on a bus, train, plane or motorbike.

British English says at the weekend and writes 20 October; American English says on the weekend and writes October 20. Both are correct.

Common mistakes

Wrong: I have an English class in Monday.

Right: I have an English class on Monday.

Wrong: I often drink coffee at the morning.

Right: I often drink coffee in the morning.

Wrong: She was born in 5 May 2002.

Right: She was born on 5 May 2002.

Wrong: We arrived to Hanoi late at night.

Right: We arrived in Hanoi late at night.