Open Menu
 
Section of English Grammar

Try mSpy Phone Tracker for Your Kid's Safety

Prepositions of Time (at, on, in): exceptions

Prepositions of Time (at, on, in): exceptions
Activity Drag&Drop
Activity Drag&Drop
When to use AT, ON, IN as prepositions of time: Exceptions.
 

Content preview

Instructions

Click on the words at the bottom and drag them into the empty boxes of the sentence to complete it.
 

Memorise this rule:

At a time, On a day, In a period
 
AT a time       (times: 10 o'clock, 5:30, etc.)
ON a day       (days and dates: Monday, Thanksgiving, the 5th of June, etc.)
IN a period    (periods of time: week, month, year, 4 hours, morning, etc.)


EXCEPTIONS
 
1- We say "in the morning", "in the afternoon", "in the evening", but: "at night". The expression "in the night" means "during one particular night". Compare:
- Don't go out at night, it can be dangerous
- We slept in a tent, but I woke up in the night and could only sleep two hours
2- at the weekend / at weekends (AmE: on the weekend)
3- on holiday
4- ON + day + part of the day
- I went there on Monday morning
- Come with us on Saturday night
- We get our presents on Christmas morning
5- We say: In the past, in the future, but... at present
6- Christmas, Easter and other long holidays use On for the day but AT for all the period
- Come and see us on Christmas Day (December 25)
- I stayed at home at Christmas (all my Christmas holidays)
- We're going to Zamora at Easter
- What are you doing on Easter Monday?
 
Note: when talking about Dec 25, American people say "on Christmas" or (less often) "on Christmas Day", but in British English we only say "on Christmas Day".
"At Easter" is the same as "In the Holy Week" (less often). "On Easter" is the same as "on Easter Sunday".  For the other days of Easter we must specify: on Easter Monday, etc.


When we say next, last, this, every we do not use at, in, on.

I went to Paris last summer (not: in last summer)
I'm starting my holidays next Saturday (not: on next Saturday)
I go home every Easter (not: at every Easter)
We'll call you this afternoon (not: in this afternoon)

Items

Gapped text Items
We have spaghetti ______________________ every Tuesday in / on / at / --
Call me up ______________________ about 5 o'clock -- / on / in / at
He always phone people ______________________ dinner time in / -- / on / at
I don't work ______________________ Sundays in / at / on / --
You can come and visit ______________________ my birthday, we're having a big party -- / on / in / at
She was born ______________________ January the 6th in / -- / at / on
I usually study ______________________ the afternoon and then relax ______________________ the evening on / in / -- / at / -- / at / on / in
Don't come ______________________ the morning, I'm at work. -- / at / on / in
Nocturnal animals go out ______________________ night -- / on / in the / onthe / at the / in / at
He drove back home ______________________ night, when the party finished on / on the / in the / at / at the
______________________ the weekend I usually stay at home and relax (British English) On / -- / In / At
They told me now I have to work ______________________ weekends too at / on / -- / in
Yes, we can go to Italy in June, I'm ______________________ holiday -- / in / at / on
I think she is free ______________________ Friday afternoon on / -- / at / in
______________________ Saturday nights we usually go dancing to the disco On / At / In / --
There was a beautiful mass ______________________ Easter morning in / -- / at / on
Things were different ______________________ past, now we have more hospitals. -- / at the / in the / in / on the / at / on / in
Do you think you will still live here ______________________ future? at the / in the / at / on the / in / on / --
This used to be a small town, but ______________________ present it has 100,000 people. on / in / at / -- / at the / in the
______________________ Christmas we spent three days in Munich In / -- / At / On
All the family got together for dinner ______________________ Christmas Day at / -- / in / on
This year I have to work ______________________ Easter Wednesday on / at / in / --
I saw David ______________________ last week in the street -- / at / on / in
We can go to the cinema ______________________ next Wednesday if you like in / on / -- / at
I think I'll stay at home ______________________ this weekend in / -- / at / on
Total number of items: 25

<your ad here>

© Angel Castaño 2008 Salamanca / Poole - free videos to learn real English online || InfoPrivacyTerms of useContactAbout
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read more