In, on and at

Place things in time and space with the right little word. Lesson 11 of 58: Everyday English, CEFR A2.

Time: at, on, in

• At for exact times: at 6 o’clock, at noon, at the weekend (British). On for days and dates: on Monday, on 3rd May, on my birthday. In for longer periods: in May, in 2020, in the summer, in the morning.
• at 7:30, at night
• on Friday, on the 21st
• in June, in the evening
• Tip: No preposition before next, last, this, every: “next Monday”, not “on next Monday”.

Place: at, on, in

• At for a point or a place you visit: at the station, at work, at the door. On for surfaces and lines: on the table, on the wall, on the second floor, on the bus. In for inside a space: in the room, in Mumbai, in the car.
• I’m at the station. (A point)
• It’s on the third floor. (Floors take on)
• She’s in the kitchen. (Inside)

Bus and car

• You are on a bus, a train, a plane, a ship, a bike: things you can stand up in or sit on. You are in a car or a taxi: things you sit inside.
• I’m on the train.
• She’s in a taxi.

Lines to have ready

• I’ll see you on Monday. (Arranging to meet)
• I’m on the train, I’ll call you back. (Travelling)
• It’s on the second floor. (Giving a location)
• Are you at work? (Asking where somebody is)

Your turn to speak

• Describe your week: three things at exact times, two on particular days, and where you will be for each, using at, on and in.
• I used at for clock times
• I used on for days
• I used in or on for places correctly

Related

• Lesson 10: Plans and predictions
• Lesson 12: Shops, cafés and polite requests
• The whole English course

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