PREPOSITIONS AT, ON, IN EXERCISE 1 (ESL)

level: Intermediate (B1/B2)

✓ Useful for TOEIC

At, on, and in are three of the most common prepositions in English — but they cover both time and place uses, and a number of fixed idiomatic expressions on top of that. This exercise practises all of these together.

Grammar review At, on, in — time and place

At, on, and in are used for both time and place expressions. The same size-based logic applies to both.

For TIME:
at = specific point: at 3 PM, at noon, at night, at Christmas
on = days and dates: on Monday, on 12 June, on my birthday
in = longer periods: in March, in 2010, in summer, in the morning

For PLACE:
at = a specific point or location: at the door, at the bus stop, at school, at home, at work
on = a surface or line: on the table, on the wall, on the left, on page 5, on the bus/train
in = inside an enclosed space or area: in the room, in a city, in France, in the car, in bed

Tricky fixed expressions:
at the end (of a period or list) • in the end (eventually, after all)
on time (punctual) • in time (not too late)
at first (initially) • at last (finally)

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Fill in each blank with at, on, or in.

1. Howard was late again. He never comes time.

2. I have a lot of things to do work today.

3. We bought these clothes sale.

4. What did you learn class today?

5. Didn't we see you the concert?

6. It's dangerous to play the street.

7. The most expensive stores are located Fifth Avenue.

8. If someone is always busily moving around, you can say they're ' the go'.

9. I didn't like her first, but we ended up becoming friends.

10. I hate standing line. I'm very impatient.

11. I didn't like Tom when I met him, but time we became friends.

12. Do it right away! = Do it once!

13. He put the empty glasses the counter.

14. There are lots of handsome men the navy.

15. Didn't I see you Julie's party?

16. I usually don't work weekends.

17. I know you're my friend, but times you behave like you weren't.

18. She has everything under control. = She is top of things.

19. There was a fire one of the empty apartments.

20. I have very bad vision, especially night.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PREPOSITION EXERCISES:
Prepositions: at, on, in 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions: at, on, in 2 (B1/B2)
Prepositions of time 1 (A1/A2)
Prepositions of time 2 (A2/B1)
For or since? 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 2 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 3 (A1/A2)
Prepositions after adjectives 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions after adjectives 2 (B1/B2)

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