Prepositions of time: at, on, in
At six o'clock, on Monday, in July, and no preposition before next, last and every.
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To say when something happens, we often use at, on or in. The choice depends on the kind of time: a clock time, a day or a longer period. Some time words take no preposition at all.
The three prepositions
Preposition | With | Examples |
|---|---|---|
at | a clock time, a short moment | at six o'clock, at noon, at night |
on | a day, a date | on Monday, on 5 May, on my birthday |
in | a part of the day, a month, a season, a year | in the morning, in July, in winter, in 2019 |
At: clock times and short moments
Use at with clock times and with a few fixed phrases.
- The meeting starts at ten.
- I usually get up at half past six.
- The shop closes at lunchtime on Saturdays.
- I can't sleep at night.
In British English we say at the weekend. In American English, people say on the weekend.
- What are you doing at the weekend?
On: days and dates
Use on with days of the week, with dates and with special days.
- I play football on Tuesdays.
- My flight is on 14 March.
- We have a party on my birthday.
- Incorrect: I start my new job in Monday.
- Correct: I start my new job on Monday.Days of the week take on.
We say on 14 March, and we say it like this: on the fourteenth of March.
On + a day + a part of the day
With a day and a part of the day together, use on. The day decides.
- I'm free on Friday evening.
- We meet on Sunday mornings.
- Incorrect: The concert is in Saturday night.
- Correct: The concert is on Saturday night.With a day and a part of the day, the day decides, so we use on.
In: longer periods
Use in with months, years, seasons, and with the morning, the afternoon, the evening.
- My birthday is in July.
- My contract ends in 2027.
- It's very hot here in summer.
- I work best in the morning.
- Incorrect: We go skiing at February.
- Correct: We go skiing in February.Months take in.
Note the difference: in the morning, in the evening, but at night.
No preposition: next, last, this, every
Don't use at, on or in before next, last, this, every, or before today, tomorrow, yesterday. So we say next week, last year, this morning, every Monday.
- I'm busy this week.
- We're moving to Bristol next month.
- She goes to the gym every day.
- See you tomorrow.
- Incorrect: I'm on holiday at the next week.
- Correct: I'm on holiday next week.Next week has no preposition and no the.
- Incorrect: We're meeting them on tomorrow.
- Correct: We're meeting them tomorrow.
- Incorrect: They visit us in every summer.
- Correct: They visit us every summer.
Questions: what time, what day, when
Answer What time ...? with at. Answer What day ...? with on. When ...? can take any of the three.
- What time does the film start? At eight.
- What day is the party? On Friday.
- When is your holiday? In August.