Unit 96: at 8 o'clock / on Monday / in April

Master time prepositions: at / on / in

A. at / on / in

At 8 o'clock

I start work at 8 o'clock.

On Sundays

I don't work on Sundays.

In 1991

Emma left school in 1991.

at
8 o'clock
10.30
midnight
etc.
on
Sunday(s) / Monday(s) etc.
25 April / 16 June etc.
New Year's Day etc.
in
April/June etc.
1985/1750 etc.
summer/spring etc.

B. We say:

at the weekend / at night / at Christmas / at the moment etc.
• Are you going away at the weekend?
• I can't sleep at night.
• Where will you be at Christmas? (but on Christmas Day)
• I'm going on holiday at the end of October.
• Are you busy at the moment?

C. in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening

• I always feel good in the morning.
• Do you often go out in the evening?

but

on Monday morning, on Tuesday afternoon, on Friday evening, on Saturday night etc.
• I'm meeting Jill on Monday morning.
• Are you doing anything on Saturday evening?

D. We do not use at/on/in before:

this ... (this morning / this week etc.)
last ... (last August / last week etc.)
next ... (next Monday / next week etc.)
every ... (every day / every week etc.)
• Are you going out this evening?
• The garden was lovely last summer.
• I'm going on holiday next Monday. (not 'on next Monday')

E. in five minutes / in a few days / in six weeks / in two years etc.

In five minutes

Hurry! The train leaves in five minutes.
(= it leaves five minutes from now)

• Goodbye! I'll see you in a few days.
(= a few days from now)

at

at 8 o'clock
at the weekend
at night

on

on Monday
on 25 April
on Friday evening

in

in April
in 1985
in the morning

no preposition

this evening
last summer
next Monday

96.1 Write at/on/in.

  1. on 6 June
  2. the evening
  3. half past two
  4. Wednesday
  5. 1987
  6. September
  7. 11.45
  8. 24 September
  9. Thursday
  10. 11.45
  11. Christmas Day
  12. the morning
  13. Friday morning
  14. Saturday night
  15. the end of the day
  16. the weekend
  17. winter

96.2 Write at/on/in.

  1. Goodbye! See you on Friday.
  2. Where were you 28 February?
  3. I got up 8 o'clock this morning.
  4. I like getting up early the morning.
  5. My sister got married May.
  6. Diane and I first met 1979.
  7. Did you go out Tuesday?
  8. Did you go out Tuesday evening?
  9. Do you often go out the evening?
  10. Let's meet 7.30 tomorrow evening.
  11. I often go away the weekend.
  12. I'm starting my new job 3 July.
  13. We often go to the beach summer.
  14. George isn't here the moment.
  15. Julia's birthday is January.
  16. Do you work Saturdays?
  17. The company started 1969.
  18. I like to look at the stars night.
  19. I'll send you the money the end of the month.

96.3 Look at Lisa's diary for next week and complete the sentences.

Diary

Lisa's diary

  1. Lisa is going to the cinema on Wednesday evening.
  2. She has to phone Chris .
  3. She isn't doing anything special .
  4. She's got a driving lesson .
  5. She's going to a party .
  6. She's meeting Sam .

96.4 Write sentences with in ...

  1. It's 17.25 now. The train leaves at 17.30. The train leaves in five minutes.
  2. It's Monday today. I'll phone you on Thursday. .
  3. Today is 14 June. My exam is on 28 June. .
  4. It's 3 o'clock now. Tom will be here at 3.30. .

96.5 Write at/on/in if necessary. Sometimes there is no preposition.

  1. I'm leaving on Friday.
  2. I'm leaving next Friday. (no preposition)
  3. I always feel tired the evening.
  4. Will you be at home this evening?
  5. We went to France last summer.
  6. Laura was born 1975.
  7. What are you doing the weekend?
  8. I phone Robert every Sunday.
  9. Shall we play tennis next Sunday?
  10. I can't go to the party Sunday.
  11. I'm going out. I'll be back an hour.
  12. I don't often go out night.
Progress: 0%
0 / 0 exercises completed

Interactive English Grammar • Unit 96 • Page 200-201