A. Compare at, on and in:
* They arrived at 5 o'clock.
* They arrived on Friday.
* They arrived in October./They arrived in 1968.
We use:
at for the time of day:
at 5 o'clock,
at 11.45,
at midnight,
at lunchtime,
at sunset etc.
on for days and dates:
on Friday/on Fridays,
on 12 March 1991,
on Christmas Day,
on my birthday
in for longer periods (for example, months/years/seasons):
in October,
in 1968,
in the 18th century,
in the past,
in (the) winter,
in the 1970s,
in the Middle Ages,
in (the) future
B. We use at in these expressions:
at night: I don't like going out at night.
at the weekend/at weekends: Will you be here at the weekend?
at Christmas/at Easter(but on Christmas Day): Do you give each other presents at Christmas?
at the moment/at present: Mr. Benn is busy at the moment/at present.
at the same time: Liz and I arrived at the same time.
Note that we usually ask 'What time ... ?' (not usually 'At what time...?):
* What time are you going out this evening?
C. We say:
in the morning(s),
in the afternoon(s),
in the evening(s)
* I'll see you in the morning.
* Do you work in the evenings?
but:
on Friday morning(s),
on Sunday afternoon(s),
on Monday evening(s) etc.
* I'll be at home on Friday morning.
* Do you usually go out on Saturday evenings?
D. We do not use at/on/in before last/next/this/every:
* I'll see you next Friday. (not 'on next Friday')
* They got married last March.
E. In a few minutes/in six months etc. = a time in the future
* The train will be leaving in a few minutes. (= a few minutes from now)
* Jack has gone away. He'll be back in a week. (= a week from now)
* She'll be here in a moment. (= a moment from now)
You can also say 'in six months' time', 'in a week's time' etc.:
* They're getting married in six months' time. (or ... in six months.)
We also use in... to say how long it takes to do something:
* I learned to drive in four weeks. it took me four weeks to learn)
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EXERCISES
1 Complete the sentences. Each time use at, on or in + one of the following.
the evening - the moment - Sundays - about 20 minutes - 21 July 1969 - the Middle Ages - 1492 - the 1920s - 11 seconds - Christmas - the same time - night
1. Columbus made his first voyage from Europe to America _in 1492._
2. In Britain most people do not work ---.
3. If the sky is clear, you can see the stars ---.
4. After working hard during the day, I like to relax ---.
5. The first man walked on the moon ---.
6. It's difficult to listen if everyone is speaking ---.
7. Jazz became popular in the United States ---.
8. I'm just going out to the shop. I'll be back ---.
9. (on the phone) 'Can I speak to Clare?' 'I'm afraid she's not here ---.'
10. In Britain, people send each other cards ---.
11. Many of Europe's great cathedrals were built ---.
12. Bob is a very fast runner. He can run 100 meters ---.
2 Put in at, on or in where necessary. Leave an empty space (-) if no preposition is necessary.
1.
a. I'll see you _on_ Friday.
b. I'll see you (-) next Friday. (no preposition)
2.
a. What are you doing --- Saturday?
b. What are you doing --- the weekend?
3.
a. They often go out --- the evenings.
b. They often go out --- Sunday evenings
4.
a. Do you work --- Wednesdays?
b. Do you work--- every Wednesday?
5.
a. We usually have a holiday --- the summer.
b. We often have a short holiday --- Christmas.
6.
a. Pauline got married --- 1991.
b. Pauline got married --- 18 May 1991.
c. Chris is getting married --- this year.
3 Put in at, on or in.
1. Mozart was born in Salzburg --- 1756.
2. I haven't seen Kate for a few days. I last saw her --- Tuesday.
3. The price of electricity is going up --- October.
4. I've been invited to a wedding --- 14 February.
5. Hurry up! We've got to go --- five minutes.
6. I'm busy just now but I'll be with you --- a moment.
7. Jenny's brother is an engineer but he's out of work --- the moment.
8. There are usually a lot of parties --- New Year's Eve.
9. I hope the weather will be nice --- the weekend.
10. Saturday night I went to bed --- 11 o'clock.
11. I don't like traveling --- night.
12. We traveled overnight to Paris and arrived --- 5 o'clock --- the morning.
13. The course begins --- 7 January and ends sometime --- April.
14. It was quite a short book and easy to read. I read it --- a day.
15. I might not be at home --- Tuesday morning but I'll probably be there --- the afternoon.
16. My car is being repaired at the garage. It will be ready --- two hours.
17. The telephone and the doorbell rang --- the same time.
18. Mary and Henry always go out for a meal --- their wedding anniversary.
19. Henry is 63. He'll be retiring from his job --- two years' time.
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