Prepositions of Time (A1) with exercises and explanation
A1Learn how to use in, on, at, the three most common prepositions of time. These words tell us when something happens: in the morning, on Monday, at 5 o'clock.
Exercise 1 (Easy): choose in, on or at
Pick the preposition that fits the time expression.
Exercises:
1
My alarm goes off ___ 6:30 and I still hit snooze twice.
2
Marta starts her new job ___ Monday, so tonight she is ironing a shirt.
3
We order pizza ___ Friday evening and watch something stupid on Netflix.
4
It gets seriously cold here ___ December.
5
The gym is almost empty ___ night, which is exactly why Tom trains then.
6
Kasia was born ___ 1998, the same year as her best friend.
7
Our flight to Lisbon leaves ___ eleven o'clock, so the taxi comes at nine.
8
I get sleepy ___ the afternoon, usually about twenty minutes after lunch.
9
The bakery is closed ___ Sundays, so buy your bread today.
10
My dad learned to drive ___ the summer of 2005.
Prepositions of Time: in / on / at
Use in, on, and at to say when something happens. Each preposition covers a different kind of time expression, and the rule is simple: think from small to large.
AT for specific times
at+exact time / special phrase
✅
The class starts at 7 o'clock.
✅
I never sleep at midnight.
✅
I relax at the weekend. (BrE)
Use AT with:
at 7 o'clock · at noon · at midnight
at night · at the weekend (BrE)
ON for days and dates
on+day / date / special day
✅
I go to the gym on Monday.
✅
My birthday is on 5th June.
✅
We rest on Christmas Day.
Use ON with:
on Monday · on Friday evening
on 5 March · on my birthday
IN for months, years and seasons
in+month / year / season / part of day
✅
I was born in January.
✅
It was cold in 2024.
✅
She drinks coffee in the morning.
Use IN with:
in January · in 2024 · in summer
in the morning / afternoon / evening
!Reference table: at / on / in
| Preposition | Used with | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | exact times, special phrases | at 9 o'clock, at noon, at midnight, at night, at the weekend |
| on | days, dates, special days | on Monday, on 5th June, on my birthday, on Christmas Day |
| in | months, years, seasons, parts of day | in January, in 2024, in summer, in the morning, in the evening |
Common mistakes to fix right now
❌
in Monday
✅
on Monday
❌
on the morning
✅
in the morning
❌
at January
✅
in January
❌
in 7 o'clock
✅
at 7 o'clock
Watch out! We say at night (NOT in the night). Parts of the day take in (in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening), but noon and midnight always take at: at noon, at midnight.