PREPOSITIONS IN, ON, AT

A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to some other part of the
sentence. (Talk English. com, 2005)
A preposition is used to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object.
Prepositions of Place: at, in, on
In general, we use:

1.

AT for a POINT

2.

IN for an ENCLOSED SPACE

3.

ON for a SURFACE

AT

IN

ON

POINT

ENCLOSED SPACE

SURFACE

at the corner

in the garden

on the wall

at the bus stop

in London

on the ceiling

at the door

in France

on the door

at the top of the page

in a box

on the cover

(Club, n.d.)

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME: AT, IN, ON

We use:

AT for a PRECISE TIME

IN for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS

ON for DAYS and DATES

AT

IN

PRECISE

MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and

ON

TIME

LONG PERIODS

DAYS and DATES

at 3 o'clock

in May

on Sunday

at 10.30am

in summer

on Tuesdays

at noon

in the summer

on 6 March

at dinnertime

in 1990

on 25 Dec. 2010

at bedtime

in the 1990s

on Christmas Day

at sunrise

in the next century

on Independence Day

at sunset

in the Ice Age

on my birthday

IN

Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, and year:
1

She always reads newspapers in the morning.

In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.

The new semester will start in March.

Used to indicate a location or place:

1

She looked me directly in the eyes.

I am currently staying in a hotel.

My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:

1

This painting is mostly in blue.

The students stood in a circle.

This jacket comes in four different sizes.

Used to express while doing something:

1

In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.

A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.

Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:

1

I believe in the next life.

We are not interested in gambling.

(Talk English. com, 2005)

ON
Used to express a surface of something:
1

I put an egg on the kitchen table.

The paper is on my desk.

Used to specify days and dates:

1

The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.

I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.

Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a phone or computer:

1

He is on the phone right now.

She has been on the computer since this morning.

My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.

Used to indicate a part of the body:

1

The stick hit me on my shoulder.

He kissed me on my cheek.

I wear a ring on my finger.

Used to indicate the state of something:

1

Everything in this store is on sale.

The building is on fire.

(Talk English. com, 2005)

AT
Used to point out specific time:
1

I will meet you at 12 p.m.

The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

Used to indicate a place:

1

There is a party at the club house.

There were hundreds of people at the park.

We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

Used to indicate an email address:

1

Please email me at abc@defg.com.

Used to indicate an activity:

1

He laughed at my acting.

I am good at drawing a portrait.

(Talk English. com, 2005)

(Everyday Grammar, 2015)

ACTIVITIES
1

I have a meeting ___ 9am.

Where will you be ___ New Year's Day?

In England, it often snows ___ December.

The shop closes ___ midnight.

Her birthday is ___ 20 November.

Do you think we will go to Jupiter ___ the future?

Jane went home ___ lunchtime.

Do you work ___ Mondays?

There should be a lot of progress ___ the next century.

10

Do you think it is a good idea to ban smoking ___ public places?

11

Look at the picture ___ the wall.

12

My house is ___ the end of the street.

13

I stopped ___ Nancy's house.

14

Do you like walking ___ the garden?

15

I found my keys ___ the desk

16

He was crying ___ the back of the classroom

17

These people live ___ my hometown

ANSWERS
1

AT

ON

IN

AT

ON

IN

AT

ON

IN

10

IN

11

ON

12

AT

13

AT

14

IN

15

ON

16

AT

17

IN

Bibliography
Club, E. (n.d.). English Club. Retrieved from English Club:
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-place-at-in-on.htm
com, T. E. (2005). Talk English. com. Retrieved from Talk English. com:
http://es.talkenglish.com/grammar/prepositions-on-at-in.aspx
English, L. (2015, Abril 24). Everyday Grammar. Retrieved from Everyday
Grammar: http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/prepositionstime-place-everyday-grammar-in-on-at/2732061.html

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACION HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS
Name:
Class: .

Date: .

OBJECTIVE: To know the correct use of the preposition of place and time (IN, ON AT)

INSTRUCTION: Use the preposition IN, ON, AT in each sentence.

(1 mark of each one)
TIME: 10 Minutes
1.-He lives _____ Germany.
2.-They have class ____ 10:00 am.
3.-Her birthday is ____ July.
4.-Toronto is ____ the province of Ontario.
5.-The meeting is ____ Monday.
6.-Her wedding was ____ July 5, 2008.
7.-I start work ____ 7:00 pm ____ the morning.
8.-Easter is a holiday ____ the spring.
9.-The bank is ____ Queen Street.
10.-He lives ____ 1522 Main Street.