AT ON IN - Prepositions of Time in English

Summary

This video explains the usage of the prepositions AT, ON, and IN in relation to time. AT is used for specific times, hours, holidays, and festivals, while ON is used for specific days, dates, and general days of the week. IN is used with months, years, decades, centuries, and seasons. The video provides numerous examples for each preposition and discusses when to use them, including common expressions and differences between British and American English. The explanation helps viewers understand how to accurately use these prepositions in everyday contexts and improve their English grammar skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 AT is used for specific times of the day, such as hours or moments, like 'at 7 o'clock' or 'at midnight'.
• 😀 AT is also used to refer to holiday periods, such as 'at Christmas' or 'at Thanksgiving'.
• 😀 ON is used for specific days of the week, like 'on Monday' or 'on Sunday'.
• 😀 ON is also used for specific dates, such as 'on May 4th' or 'on New Year's Day'.
• 😀 IN is used for months, years, decades, and centuries, like 'in January', 'in 1984', or 'in the 18th century'.
• 😀 IN is used with seasons, such as 'in winter' or 'in summer'.
• 😀 IN is also used when referring to a period of time, such as 'in two days' or 'in five years'.
• 😀 AT is used for 'midnight' and 'noon' as exact times, indicating 12:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
• 😀 There is no article between 'ON' and a day of the week (e.g., 'on Monday', not 'on the Monday').
• 😀 Prepositions are not used with words like 'last', 'next', or 'every' when referring to time, such as 'next Friday' or 'last month'.

Q & A

What is the primary use of the preposition AT?

The preposition AT is used for specific times, such as at a specific hour or minute, for example, 'at 8 a.m.' or 'at midnight'.

Why do we say 'at 7 o'clock' and not 'in 7 o'clock'?

'At 7 o'clock' is correct because 'at' refers to a specific point in time, and 'o'clock' indicates no minutes, representing a precise hour.

What does 'o'clock' mean in relation to time?

'O'clock' is used when there are no minutes and the time is rounded to the hour, such as '7 o'clock' or '2 o'clock'.

What is the opposite of midnight?

The opposite of midnight is noon or midday, which is twelve o'clock during the day.

When do we use the preposition ON?

We use ON for specific days of the week (e.g., 'on Monday') and for dates (e.g., 'on March 27th'). It is used to specify a particular day or date.

Why do we say 'on Sundays' instead of 'on Sunday'?

'On Sundays' refers to all Sundays in general, not a specific Sunday. The plural form indicates a recurring event or habit.

What is the difference between 'on' and 'in' when referring to dates?

We use 'on' when referring to a specific date, such as 'on December 25th', but we use 'in' when referring to just the month or year, such as 'in December' or 'in 2025'.

How do we use the preposition IN with years?

We use IN with years to refer to a particular year or a range of years, such as 'in 1999' or 'in the 2000s'.

What does 'in the morning' or 'in the evening' indicate?

These phrases refer to parts of the day, and we use 'in' to express a general time period, like 'in the morning' or 'in the evening'. However, 'at night' is used, not 'in the night'.

Is there a difference between British and American English in how they use the word 'weekend'?

Yes, in British English, people use 'at the weekend', while in American English, 'on the weekend' is more common.