Time prepositions IN, ON, AT

Content

• Examples of the preposition of time in
• Examples of the preposition of time on
• Examples of the preposition of time at

The prepositions they are invariable words that introduce prepositional phrases. Those prepositional phrases can be attachments or complements. In English the prepositions of time in, on Y at introduce complements of time.

It is important to remember that the same words can be used as prepositions of place.

Examples of the preposition of time in

To mark moments of the day

1. He wakes up verty early in the morning. / Wakes up very early in the morning.
2. The group will meet again in the evening. / The group will meet again in the evening.
3. We always have tea together in the afternoon. / We always have tea together in the afternoon.

To indicate the seasons of the year

1. We always go to the beach in the summer. / We always go to the beach in the summer.
2. This garden in beautiful in spring. / This garden is beautiful in spring.
3. I don't like walking the dog in winter. / I don't like taking the dog for a walk in winter.
4. He gets a lot of allergies in autumn. / You have a lot of allergies in the fall.

To mark the months of the year. Months in English are always capitalized.

1. His birthday is in March. / His birthday is in March.
2. Here is very cold in June. / It's very cold here in June.
3. I'm going away on vacation in September. / I'm going on vacation in September.
4. The fields are beautiful in August. / The fields are beautiful in August

To mark the year

1. The second World War ended in 1945. / The Second World War ended in 1945.
2. She was born in 1968. / She was born in 1968.
3. The project will be completely finished in 2018. / The project will be completely finished in 2018.
4. The building was built in 1944. / The building was built in 1944.

To pinpoint a time range in the future

1. We will be back in a week. / We will be back in a week.
2. Your essay must be ready in three days. / Your essay should be ready in three days.
3. The new model will be in the stores in two months. / The new model will be in stores in two months.
4. He will have his degree in four years. / He will have his title in four years.

To refer to a period of time

1. The book was written in the Middle Ages. / The book was written in the Middle Ages
2. The castle was built in the 16^th / The castle was built in the 16th century
3. In the past, deceases couldn’t be cured with antibiotics. / In the past, diseases could not be cured with antibiotics.
4. Remember these rules in the future. / Remember these rules in the future.

Examples of the preposition of time on

To mark the day the events occur. Days of the week in English are always capitalized

1. Classes start on Monday. / Classes start on Monday.
2. I like going to the park on Sundays. / I like to go to the park on Sundays.
3. They were at the restaurant on Friday. / They were at the restaurant on Friday.
4. Let's meet on Saturday. / Let's meet on Saturday.

To refer to a specific time of day

1. I will go to the office on Monday morning. / I will go to the office Monday morning.
2. The shop always closes on Saturday evening. / The business always closes on Saturday night.
3. The game will be on Sunday afternoon. / The game will be on Sunday afternoon.

To pinpoint an exact date

1. They got married on May 15th. / They were married on May 15.
2. We saw him on New Year's Day. / We saw it on New Years Day.
3. The exam is on April 23rd. / The exam is April 23rd.

Examples of the preposition of time at

"At" is used in certain fixed expressions:

1. Smith can't see you at the moment. / Mr. Smith cannot see you at this time.
2. What did you do at the weekend? / What did you do on the weekend?
3. At that time I still believe that Santa Claus existed. / At that time I still believed that Santa Claus existed.
4. The high tide is at noon. / High tide is at noon.
5. Bats get out of their cave at night. / Bats come out of their cave at night.
6. We always meet at lunchtime. / We always meet at lunchtime.
7. The ghost appears at midnight. / The ghost appears at midnight.

To mark the time

1. We have tea at five o’clock. / We have tea at five.
2. I usually get up at seven. / I usually get up at seven.

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