PREPOSITIONS OF TIME EXERCISE 1 (AT, ON, IN) (ESL)
level: Beginner (A1/A2)
Prepositions of time are among the first prepositions English learners encounter — but knowing which one to use with a specific type of time expression takes consistent practice. This exercise covers the three main ones: at, on, and in.
Grammar review
Prepositions of time — at, on, in
The three main prepositions of time in English each work at a different level of specificity.
AT — for specific times and fixed expressions:
at 3 o’clock, at noon, at midnight, at night, at the weekend (British English), at Christmas, at the moment
“The meeting starts at 9 AM.”
ON — for days and dates:
on Monday, on Tuesday morning, on 15 March, on my birthday, on New Year’s Day, on the weekend (American English)
“She was born on the 5th of June.”
IN — for months, years, seasons, and longer periods:
in January, in 2010, in summer, in the morning/afternoon/evening, in the 19th century
“We moved here in March.”
No preposition with last, next, this, every, tomorrow, yesterday:
✗ “I saw him on last Monday.” ✓ “I saw him last Monday.”
The three main prepositions of time in English each work at a different level of specificity.
AT — for specific times and fixed expressions:
at 3 o’clock, at noon, at midnight, at night, at the weekend (British English), at Christmas, at the moment
“The meeting starts at 9 AM.”
ON — for days and dates:
on Monday, on Tuesday morning, on 15 March, on my birthday, on New Year’s Day, on the weekend (American English)
“She was born on the 5th of June.”
IN — for months, years, seasons, and longer periods:
in January, in 2010, in summer, in the morning/afternoon/evening, in the 19th century
“We moved here in March.”
No preposition with last, next, this, every, tomorrow, yesterday:
✗ “I saw him on last Monday.” ✓ “I saw him last Monday.”
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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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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