There are certain rules that you must keep in mind when it comes to using the prepositions of IN, ON and AT.
It can be tricky for learners of the English language but with practice, it will be easier to remember.
Prepositions of Time: IN, ON, AT
The preposition IN is used for non-specific times: centuries, decades, years, months, weeks, seasons, periods of time, holidays, and parts of the day
- In the 21st cetury
- In the 1980s / In the eighties
- In 1960
- In September
- In 3 weeks / In a week
- In autumn / In the spring
- In the future / In the middle ages / In the next century
- In Easter Holiday
- In the morning / In the afternoon / In the evening
The preposition ON is used for holidays with “day”, days of the week, dates, specific days, time, and day + part of day.
- On Christmas day / On New Year’s day
- On Wednesday
- On January 1st / On the 10th / On the last day
- On the weekend / On time / On a summer evening
- On Sunday mornings / On Friday evenings
The preposition AT is used for hours, parts of the day, specific times, and holidays without “day”
- At 8am / At 12 o’clock
- At night / At noon
- At present / At breakfast
- At Christmas / At New Year
Prepositions of Place: IN, ON, AT
The preposition IN is used for countries, cities, neighborhood, location or place, and enclosed space.
- In Canada
- In Manila
- In Chinatown
- In the eyes / In a traffic jam
- In the car / In a hotel
The preposition of place ON is used for more specific places, like streets, avenues, surfaces, indicate part of a body, means of transport, and communications.
- On Wall Street
- On 9th Avenue
- On the floor / On a table / On a wall
- On my cheek / On my finger
- On a bus / On a train / On a plane
- On the radio / On the phone / On the television
The preposition AT is used in addresses or intersections and specific locations or points
- At 6750 Ayala Avenue
- At The Eiffel Tower / At the bus stop / At the corner
