In, On, At

How to use these common English prepositions

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The Basics

• IN for enclosed spaces, buildings, parks

• ON for surfaces

• AT for places and locations

For example

• IN the restaurant

• ON the table

• AT the beach

More examples

More examples

Quick Quiz• 1) The milk is ___ the fridge• 2) The book is _____ the table• 3) She is _____ the library • 7) Her jacket is _____ her wardrobe• 8) Her jacket is ____ the bed• 9) He is _____ work• 10) We are ________ the bus stop• 11) Your book is ______ the shelf • 12) The glasses are ______ the table • 13) The glasses are _______ the sink •

Level Two

IN

• In for countries

• In for cities

• ON for transportFor example, ‘She is on the bus.’

EXCEPT FOR CARS

IN for carsFor example, ‘The presents are in the car.’

• IN the morning• IN the afternoon• IN the evening

• BUT

• AT night

MONTHS‘In six months’

YEARS‘In two years’

SEASONS‘In winter’

ON for days of the week and dates‘On the 24th of March’‘On Monday’‘On Friday the 16th of April’

AT for specific times

• ‘At 2 o’clock’• ‘At 5 minutes past 12’• ‘At lunchtime’

AT for festivals

‘At Christmas’‘At Divali’‘At Chinese New Year’

WEEKENDS AT/ON

• British AT• American ON• Australian ON

Quick Quiz• Let’s meet ______ 5 o’clock • She was born ______ the 10th of April • He was born _________ July • I went to India ______ 2007 • Natalie is working ______ Monday • I met your mother ______ a bus • He’s waiting ______ the car • I like going to the movies ____ the evening• Are you going away ______the summer? • I’ll see you ______ the weekend • I like butter ______my toast • I work_____the ground floor of my building• I waited for 15 minutes ______ the train station

More situations using IN

• In a row/queue/line • In the middle of a page • In a few weeks/ hours/days • In a group of people • In an hour• In love• In the rain

More situations using ON

• On a small island

• On the left/right

More situations using AT

At the top of a page BUT in the middle of a page At the front of the class

For an address:At 210 St. Georges Terrace

Quick Quiz

• The resort is __ a small island __ the Pacific Ocean.

• The rules are explained __ the top of the page.• Susan lives __Beaufort Street __ Perth.• I had to wait __ a queue __ the bank.• Turn the corner and the bakery is __ the left.• My birthday is __ a couple of months.

For experts

• On the internet /TV/phone/radio• We arrived in time • In/on/at the corner - depends where you physically are

in the space/location. In for enclosed spaces, on for surfaces and at for locations.

• In time (any time up to the point of being late)• On time (coordinated with a specific point in time)• The class started at 10am. Brenda arrived at 9.50am – in

time for the start of class. Brandon arrived on time at 10am.

For experts

• At once• In tears• In my opinion• At the same time• On the subject• On the condition that• On your recommendation• On the whole

YOU CAN TAKE A QUIZ athttp://www.wiziq.com/online-tests/32530-tough-in-on-at-test

REVIEW

• Which preposition is used for rooms, buildings and enclosed spaces?

• Which preposition is used for transport (except cars) ? • Which preposition is used for places like home, work,

school • Which preposition is used for days of the week and

dates? • Which preposition is used for months and years? • Which preposition is used for surfaces?

REVIEW• Which preposition is used for referring to a specific time, e.g 6

o’clock • Which preposition is used for seasons? • Which preposition is used for festivals like New Year or Christmas? • Which preposition is used for rows, lines and queues? • Which preposition is used for a few weeks/days/hours? • Which preposition is used for mornings, afternoons and evenings? • Which preposition is used for night? • Which preposition is used for countries and cities? • Which preposition is used for small islands?

Thank you and happy learning!

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