time expressions

1. AT / ON / IN = are used as TIME EXPRESSIONS
Compare at, on and in:
They arrived at 5 o’clock.
They arrived on Friday.
They arrived in October. / They arrived in 1968.
We use:
1. at for the time of day:
at 5 o’clock at 11.45 at midnight at lunchtime
at sunset etc
2. on for days and dates:
on Friday / on Fridays on 12 March 1991
on Christmas Day on my birthday

2. 3. in for longer periods (for example, months / seasons):
in October in 1968 in the 18th century in the past
in (the) winter in the 1970s in the Middle Ages
in (the) future
We use at in these expressions:
at night
at the weekend / at weekends
at Christmas / at Easter
(but on Christmas day)
at the moment / at present
at the same time

3. • I don’t like going out at night.
• Will you be here at the weekend?
• Do you give each other presents at Christmas?
• Mr. Benn is busy at the moment / at present.
• Liz and I arrived at the same time.
Note that we usually ask ‘What time...?
(not usually ‘At what time...?):
• What time are you going out this evening?
We say:
in the morning(s) in the afternoon(s) in the evening(s)
• I’ll see you in the morning.
• Do you work in the evenings?

4. on Friday morning(s) on Sunday afternoon(s)
on Monday evening(s)
• I’ll be at home on Friday morning.
• Do you usually go out on Saturday evening?
We do not use at / on / in before last / next / this / every:
• I’ll see you next Friday. (not ’on next Friday’)
• They got married last March.

5. 1. I left work ______ ten o'clock last night.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
2. I saw Bob in the street ______ yesterday.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
3. I didn't get time to come and visit you ______ last Tuesday.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
4. He used to be a regular visitor ______ Tuesdays.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
5. I phoned her up and spoke to her ______ Wednesday morning.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
6. I last saw him ______ the beginning of September.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
7. I saw him sometime ______ June.
At / on / in / (no preposition)

6. 8. Were you at the last meeting ______ July 13?
At / on / in / (no preposition)
9. We bought the company ______ Thursday, 22 May.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
10. I spoke to her ______ three weeks ago.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
11. I bought this computer ______ the start of the summer.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
12. I bought this computer ______ the summer.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
13. I bought this computer ______ last summer.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
14. This style was very popular ______ the 1970's.
At / on / in / (no preposition)

7. 15. They were very popular ______ the middle of the 19th Century.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
16. I was still at school ______ 1993.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
17. I met him ______ January of last year.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
18. I knew Chris Smith quite well ______ when I was at university.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
19. I took over this job ______ the middle of last year.
At / on / in / (no preposition)
20. I was in a meeting ______ all day yesterday.
At / on / in / (no preposition)