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Prepositions of Time in English: AT, IN, ON

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Prepositions of time are the small words, like at, in and on, that tell you when something happens. “I’ll see you on Monday at 6″ only works with the right ones.

This guide is for A1 to B1 learners. It covers the three main prepositions of time, exactly when to use each, the time expressions that take no preposition, and the mistakes learners make most. Three exercises let you practise straight away.

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A quick video summary

What are prepositions of time?

A preposition of time gives more information about the moment an action happens: “I always walk the dog in the morning.”

The same three little words, at, in and on, are also prepositions of place, but here they point to a time: a clock time, a day, a month or a longer period.

When to use AT, IN and ON

Here is the rule of thumb, from the most specific (a clock time) to the widest (a month or year):

Preposition When to use it Examples
at Clock times, festivals, and fixed expressions. at 6 o’clock, at night, at Christmas, at the weekend
in Months, seasons, years, and parts of the day. in July, in summer, in 2020, in the morning
on Days of the week, dates, and special days. on Monday, on 5 May, on my birthday
A good picture: at a point in time, in a longer period that surrounds it, on a specific day.

These little words are easy to read and easy to slip on when you speak. Book a free trial lesson and practise them with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.

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Common mistakes with prepositions of time

  1. Using in for days. Days take on: “on Monday”, not “in Monday”.
  2. Using on for months or years. These take in: “in July”, “in 2020″.
  3. Adding a preposition before next, last, this or every. Say “I’ll call you next week“, not “on next week”.
  4. Forgetting the fixed expressions. It is “at night” but “in the morning”; “at the weekend” (UK) or “on the weekend” (US).

Practice exercises

Try these three exercises. They open in a new tab so you can keep this guide handy.

Exercise 1: Match the time expression to the preposition
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences
Exercise 3: Preposition or no preposition?

Quick self-check

Complete or fix each sentence, then reveal the answers.

1. I was born ___ 1998.
2. The meeting is ___ Monday ___ 9am.
3. See you ___ the weekend! (UK)

Show answers

1. in.   2. on Monday at 9am.   3. at the weekend.

How did that go? Choosing the right preposition in an exercise is a start; saying it without thinking is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will help you get there.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use at, in and on for time?
Use at for clock times and festivals (at 6, at Christmas), in for months, seasons and years (in July, in 2020), and on for days and dates (on Monday, on 5 May).
Do you say in the morning or at the morning?
Say in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, but at night. These are fixed expressions worth memorising.
Is it at the weekend or on the weekend?
Both are correct: British English uses at the weekend, American English uses on the weekend.
Do you use a preposition before next or last?
No. Do not use a preposition before next, last, this, every, tomorrow or yesterday: “I saw her last week”, “see you next Monday”.
How many prepositions are there in English?
There are around 150, but you use a small number constantly. For time, at, in and on cover almost everything.

Key takeaways

  • Use at for clock times and festivals (at 6, at Christmas).
  • Use in for months, seasons and years (in July, in 2020).
  • Use on for days and dates (on Monday, on 5 May).
  • It is in the morning but at night.
  • Use no preposition before next, last, this, every, tomorrow or yesterday.

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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.