At', in, on prepositions of time: Rules & examples

Do you know how and when to use at, in, and on to talk about time? Enhance your knowledge with the lesson given below and the grammar explanation to guide you better.

Check out these examples to see how we use at, in, and on to talk about time:

• At night, I like to read before bed.

• In the summer, we often travel.

• On Tuesdays, I go to the gym.

• In the evening, we usually relax and watch TV.

• On weekends, I go hiking with friends.

• At 7 o'clock, I start my workout.

Grammar explanation - Prepositions of place – 'at', 'in', 'on'

We use the prepositions in, on, or at to indicate when something happens.

1. At

We usually use at with clock times and mealtimes.

• I leave the house at 8 a.m. every day.

• She always takes a walk at lunchtime.

We also use at with specific phrases like at the weekend and at night.

• At the weekend, I usually catch up on chores.

In American English, you may hear on the weekend or on weekends instead.

• We use at night to talk about the whole night, and in the night for a specific moment during the night.

• She likes to read at night.

• The dog often barks in the night.

We also use at with holidays that last several days, such as at Christmas or at Easter.

• It’s always snowy here at Christmas.

• At Diwali, families gather to celebrate.

2. In

We use in with parts of the day and longer periods such as months, seasons, and years.

• I like to exercise in the morning.

• In winter, it gets dark early.

• She was born in 1995.

3. On

We use on with days and dates.

• On Saturdays, I like to go for a long walk.

• Her birthday is on December 12th.

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