Basic time prepositions: at, in, on
at: for exact time
in: for months, years, centuries, and longer periods
on: for days and dates
| IN | AT | ON |
| in the next century | at sunrise | on Sunday |
| in the past | at 9 in the morning | on Saturdays |
| in the Ice Age | at 10 am | on weekdays |
| in the 1980s | at noon | on Christmas Day |
| in 1980 | at lunchtime | on New Year’s Eve |
| in May | at dinner time | he and sunny day |
| in summer | at bedtime | on Friday night |
| in the morning | at sunset | on my birthday |
| in the afternoon | at the moment | on 24 December 2010 |
| in the evening | at the end of … | on New Year’s Day |
| in five minutes | at midnight | on 1 March |
In some cases, there may be more grammar options depending on whether we use American Or British English:
on weekend (American)
but
at weekend (British)
Read also: In, On, At – Preposition of Time and Place Exercises
Preposition of time sentences:
- I met him at 9. (I met him at 9)
- You should be back at midnight. (You should be back at midnight.)
- Do you usually work on Saturdays? (Do you usually work on Saturdays?)
- ( American) I never work on the weekend. (I never work this weekend.)
- We came home at the same time. (We came home at the same time.)
When we use the term last, next, every, this or during, we do not use prepositions at, in, on
Examples:
- I went to Brno last week. (Last week I went to Brno.)
- My friend is coming next Saturday. (Come next Saturday.)
- I go home every Christmas. (Every Christmas I drive home.)
- I’ll call you this evening. (I’ll call tonight.)
- He stopped by last night. (It happened yesterday evening.)
- He told me during journey.
in American English we use “on weekend” while in British English we use “at weekend”
Preposition of time worksheet
Read also: Types of Prepositions, Preposition of Place