Updated on November 18, 2025
With easy A1 grammar explanations and exercises, you can learn how to use English time prepositions like “on,” “in,” and “at.” It’s easy to practice your English!
Exercises & Summary
Prepositions of Time: On, at, in
Prepositions of time tell us when something happens. On, at, and in are the most common.
Each one goes with a different kind of time expression.
Using “At”
We use “at” for certain times and some special phrases.
Use “at” with:
- Clock times: at 7 o’clock, at 10:30, at midnight
- Festivals and holidays (without “day”): at Christmas, at Easter
- Expressions: at night, at the weekend, at lunchtime, at the moment
Examples:
- The lesson starts at 9 o’clock.
- I go to bed at midnight.
- We relax at the weekend.
Using “On”
We use on for days and dates.
Use “on” with:
- Days of the week: on Monday, on Friday, on Sunday
- Specific dates: on July 5th, on 14 February
- Special days: on my birthday, on Christmas Day, on New Year’s Eve
Examples:
- I have English class on Tuesday.
- We met on 10 May.
- She was born on her birthday, of course!
Using “In”
We use in for months, years, seasons, and longer periods of time.
Use “in” with:
- Months: in January, in September
- Years: in 2020, in 1998
- Seasons: in summer, in winter
- Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
- Long periods: in the past, in the future
Examples:
- I was born in 2001.
- We go on holiday in August.
- She likes reading in the evening.
Summary Table
| Preposition | Used for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| At | Exact times / special periods | at 6:30, at night, at Christmas |
| On | Days / dates | on Monday, on 25 March, on New Year’s Day |
| In | Months / years / seasons / parts of the day | in July, in 2024, in summer, in the morning |
Quick Tips
Don’t say in Monday → say on Monday
Don’t say at the morning → say in the morning
Don’t say on 1999 → say in 1999
Example Sentences
- The shop closes at 8 p.m.
- I’ll see you on Friday.
- My birthday is in December.
- We usually eat together at the weekend.
- Flowers bloom in spring.