This document provides information about the proper use of prepositions of time - at, in, and on. It begins by defining each preposition and providing examples of their uses for times, dates, events, and expressions. It then discusses the rules for using "at" as a preposition versus an adverb. Examples are given to illustrate the correct usage. An exercise section follows with multiple choice questions to test understanding of using the three prepositions in time phrases. It concludes with a bibliography citing sources.

1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTA DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN HUMANAS Y
TECNOLOGÍAS
LANGUAGES SCHOOL
FIFTH SEMESTER
GRAMMAR V
TOPIC:
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME
AT IN ON
PROFESSOR:
MSG. MAGDALENA ULLAURI
STUDENTS:
JENNIFER FLORES
DIANA MENDOZA
MARZO - AGOSTO 2015

2. PREPOSITION IN TIME PHRASES
The following are the main prepositions which we use in time phrases.
AT
 Clock times, points of time in the day:
At nine o´clock; at 6.35; at midnight, at noon, at dawn, at lunch time, at dinner time, at
night.
 Weekends and holidays periods:
At the weekend, at weekends, at Christmas, at Easter.
 Points in time:
At Ramadan, at the beginning, at the end, at last, at the moment, at present, at the time,
at times.
CORRECT GRAMMAR USAGE OF AT
More often than not students ignore the rules surrounding the correct grammar usage of
"at." The word can be easily misused which is why many English teachers try to make it
a point to illustrate the correct grammar usage of the word. Nonetheless, many students
fail to retain the information. Perhaps it is in the way that the lesson is delivered or the
way that the text book is written. Whatever the case may be, there are certain rules that
surround the correct usage of "at.”
"At" the Preposition

3. Simply put, the word "at" is a preposition. A preposition is, in a sense, a connector. It
connects words together. When you use the word "at" in a sentence you should notice
that it smoothly connects the other words that are around it.
If the word "at" is not working as a connector then it will more than likely be working
as an adverb. The word, when working as an adverb, will work towards modifying one
of the words in the sentence. Some people call it a particle while others still maintain
that the word is an adverb.
A preposition is a relationship word (hence the word connector). It is the sort of word
that can explain the space, time or relationship of a sentence therefore linking the words
together.
Rules Governing the Usage of At
Believe it or not, there are only two rules that govern the use of prepositions like the
word “at”.
The first rule deals with preposition choice - which you need to choose the right
preposition to use in the sentence.
 A preposition like "at" must follow certain words in order to make the
relationship crystal clear between words in the sentence. In order to do this, for
example, if you were to say the sentence "I am looking at him" you could only
use the preposition "at." There is no way that you could use any other

4. prepositions or the meaning of the sentence would be compromised and
completely unclear.
The second rule deals with how and where the preposition "at" is placed in a particular
sentence - that a preposition must be followed by a noun or a pronoun.
 The noun or pronoun counts as the object of the preposition. This can get a little
tricky, but if you go back to the sample sentence, it can be a bit easier. The
sentence used was “I am looking at him.”
The analysis would go like so. The preposition is the word “at” which is followed by the
pronoun him. (LoveToKnow, 1996-2015).
IN
 The main parts of the day:
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.
 Months, years, seasons, centuries.
In March, in 1999, in the autumn, in the twentieth century.
In mainly denotes “rest at”:
PLACE: He lives in the country. He lives in Chicago. (BUT, He lives at 2300 Wabash
Ave.)
TIME: I’ll be there in an hour.
 Events which will happen at the end of a period:
I´ll be back until in an hour. (Wrong)
I´ll be back in an hour.

5. In the beginning in the end.
In the night, in the evening, in the day.
ON
 Specific dates and days.
On august 8, on Tuesday, on Wednesday, on weekdays, on new year´s day, on
Christmas day, on the day of departure/ arrival on Wednesday morning, on a fine sunny
day.
On indicates proximity and position above or outside:
PLACE: He sat on the fence.
TIME: He was not thinking well on that occasion.
REFERENCE: He asked my opinion on the matter.
CONDITION: We’ll hire him on your recommendation.
AT - ON - IN
Examples of use :

6. Space/Location Time Other
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
AT
David is waiting at the bank. At 9 o'clock
Anne is
good at
English.
I saw Mary at work, at home,
at the party, etc.
At the age of 80.
Look at
that car!
We met at the station. At night.
The
golfer
aimed at
the flag.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
ON
The bank is on the main street. On December 25th.
On
television.
The book is on the desk. On Sunday.
On the
radio.
Don't walk on the grass. On my birthday.
On
holiday(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
IN
The money is in the bank. In 2012.
She
writes in
English.
The desk is in the room.
In a minute, a month, a year,
the future, the past.
He is in
good
humour.
The children are in the garden.
In the morning, the afternoon,
the evening.
They are
in danger.
He works in the city.
In winter, spring, summer,
autumn.
We are in
good
health.
in on
in the morning on Tuesday morning
in the mornings on Saturday mornings
in the afternoon(s) on Sunday afternoon(s)

7. in the evening(s) on Monday evening(s)
Expression Example
at night The stars shine at night.
at the weekend* I don't usually work at the weekend.
at Christmas*/Easter I stay with my family at Christmas.
at the same time We finished the test at the same time.
at present He's not home at present. Try later.
When we say last, next, every, this we do not also use at, in, on.
 I went to London last June. (not in last June)
 He's coming back next Tuesday. (not on next Tuesday)
 I go home every Easter. (not at every Easter)
 We'll call you this evening. (not in this evening)
Look at these examples:
 I have a meeting at 9am.
 The shop closes at midnight.
 Jane went home at lunchtime.
 In England, it often snows in December.
 Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?
 There should be a lot of progress in the next century.
 Do you work on Mondays?
 Her birthday is on 20 November.
 Where will you be on New Year's Day?

8. Exercises
. I'll see you next week.
2. He was born 1991.
3. Did you see her today.
4. It starts tomorrow.
5. It was sunny my birthday.
6. It will be ready eight months.
7. What's on the TV midnight.
8. The factory closed June.
9. the winter, it usually snows.
10. Friday, she spoke to me.
11. What are you doing the weekend.
12. I'll see you a moment.
13. The anniversary is May 10th.
14. Where did you go last summer.
15. The movie starts 20 minutes.
16. the moment, I'm busy.
17. They were very popular the 1980s.
18. My appointment is Thursday morning.
19. We had the meeting last week.

9. 20. Are you staying at home Christmas Day.
21. I have to speak to the boss lunchtime.
22. 8 o'clock, I must leave.
1. The train leaves ___ five minutes, hurry up.
at in on
2. I'm going to America ___ April.
at in on
3. He doesn't work ___ Sundays or Mondays.
at in on
4. In England the shops shut ___ 5:30.
at in on
5. She never feels very good ___ the morning.
at in on
6. She is starting work ___ June 4th.
at in on
7. What do you do ___ the evenings?
at in on
8. I can't sleep ___ night these days.
at in on
9. Where are you going ___ the summer?
at in on
10. He was born ___ 1966.
at in on
11. The school is closed _______ Sunday.
at in on
12. I wake up ____ 6 am everyday.
at in on
13. Kim was born ____ 1981.
at in on
14. I go to sleep ____ night.
at in on
15. She will go to her friend's house ____ Tuesday.
at in on
16. Jack and Jill play ___ the same time.
at in on
17. Christopher will come back ___ a week.
at in on

10. 18. My birthday comes ___ December.
at in on
19. Sheila will give a nice greeting card to her mother ____ Mother's Day.
at in on
20. The school prayer starts ____ 8 a.m.
at in on
21. We wear warm clothes ____ winter.
at in on
22. Mary is celebrating her birthday ____ May 3.
at in on
23. I will see you ____ the morning.
at in on
24. I will come and visits you ____ the Christmas holidays.
at in on
25. I completed my work ____ two hours.
at in on
Bibliography
club, e. (n.d.). english club. Retrieved june 14, 2015, from english club:
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-time.htm
LoveToKnow, C. (1996-2015). your dictionary. Retrieved 14 june, 2015, from your dictionary:
http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/correct-grammar-usage-of-
at.html

11. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN HUMANAS Y
TECNOLOGÍAS
LANGUAGES SCHOOL
FIFTH SEMESTER
GRAMMAR V
STUDENT´S NAME: ______________________________________________
DATE: __________________________________________________________
TIME: ___10minutes_____________________________________________
TEST
OBJECTIVE: identify the use of different ADJECTIVES AS A NOUN
INSTRUCTIONS:
A. Write the correct noun to the following adjectives
COOPERATIVE___________________
ENTIRE___________________
MUNDANE___________________
JUVENILE___________________
AGGRESSIVE____________________
ATTRACTIVE______________________
EMOTIONAL______________________
NOCTURNAL___________________
ELEMENTARY____________________
VOLUNTARY ___________________
SIGNATURE

12. This gives you a grade of E.
Question 1 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: x.
Question 2 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in.
Question 3 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: x.
Question 4 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: x.
Question 5 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: on.
Question 6 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in. with future meaning...'I will go to
America in eight months.'
Question 7 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: at.
Question 8 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in.
Question 9 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in.
Question 10 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: on.
Question 11 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: on. 'at' is acceptable in the UK.
Question 12 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in. with future meaning
Question 13 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: on.
Question 14 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: x.
Question 15 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in. with future meaning
Question 16 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: at. meaning 'now'
Question 17 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: in.
Question 18 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: on.
Question 19 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: x.
Question 20 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: on.
Question 21 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: at.
Question 22 - Incorrect. Actual Answer was: at
in
2. in
3. on
4. at
5. in
6. on

13. 7. in
8. at
9. in
10. in
11. on
12. at
13. in
14. at
15. on
16. at
17. in
18. in
19. on
20. at
21. in
22. on
23. in
24. in
25. in