Look at these examples to see how we use at, in and on to talk about time.
At weekends, I love to go skiing.
In spring, the weather is warmer.
On Mondays, I work from home.
In the afternoon, I do activities.
On weekdays, I work until 12.
At 5 o'clock, I do two or three more hours of work.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
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Grammar A1-A2: Prepositions of time – 'at', 'in' and 'on': 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We use the prepositions in, on or at to say when something happens.
at
We usually use at with clock times and mealtimes.
I get up at 6.30 a.m. and go for a run.
She doesn't like to leave the office at lunchtime.
We also use at with some specific phrases such as at the weekend and at night.
At the weekend, I can spend the days how I like.
We can also say on weekends or on the weekend. This is more common in American English.
We say at night when we mean all of the night. But we say in the night when we want to talk about a specific time during the night.
She's a nurse and she works at night.
The baby often wakes up in the night.
We use at with Christmas and other holidays that last several days.
The weather is very cold here at Christmas.
At Chinese New Year, many people go home to their families.
| clock times | at 6 o'clock at 9.30 at 13.00 |
|---|---|
| mealtimes and breaks | at breakfast time at lunchtime at dinner time at break time |
| other time phrases | at night at weekends/the weekend at Christmas/Easter |
in
We usually use in with parts of the day and longer periods of time such as months, seasons and years.
I usually relax in the evening.
In summer it's too hot to do anything.
I'm always really busy in December.
| parts of the day | in the morning/afternoon/evening |
|---|---|
| months | in January/February |
| seasons | in (the) spring/summer/autumn/winter |
| years, centuries, decades | in 2016 in the 21st century in the 80s |
| other time phrases | in the past in the future in the last few years/months/weeks/days |
on
We usually use on with days and dates.
On Fridays, I have a long lunch.
It's his birthday on 19 October.
| days | on Monday/Tuesday etc. on my birthday on New Year's Day |
|---|---|
| dates | on 30 July on the second of August |
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
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Grammar A1-A2: Prepositions of time – 'at', 'in' and 'on': 2
Hi enigma4ever25,
It should be "on", but it's quite common to drop the preposition too, e.g. I'll see you Saturday lunchtime.
I hope that helps!
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello, I have a sentence "I am completing competitive programming fundamental ... Coursera". What should I fill? In or at? Thank you
Hello kikoo,
I would say 'at', but I think 'in' and 'with' are also used. Online courses are new linguistic territory!
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Well thanks for the Lesson, thank you a lot!
Hello. Sorry these prepositions ("of" vs "from") aren't on the page. Which of these is correct? Or are they both? What's the difference in meaning?
- I almost cried of happiness when I saw my long-lost mum.
- I almost cried from happiness when I saw my long-lost mum.
Hi Howard Manzi,
The usual preposition would be "with": I almost cried with happiness. Using "from" is also possible, but less commonly used.
The preposition "of" is normally used when "cry" is a noun, not a verb (e.g. I gave a cry of happiness).
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Yes. Thanks a lot.