Prepositions Of Time Exercises: Master At, In, On and More
Prepositions of time can be tricky even for advanced English learners. These small words—at, in, on—play a crucial role in specifying when something happens. This article provides comprehensive exercises to help you master prepositions of time, with clear explanations and plenty of practice opportunities.
Understanding Time Prepositions: The Basics
Before diving into exercises, let’s review the basic rules for the three main prepositions of time:
At is used for:
– Specific times: at 3 o’clock, at noon, at midnight
– Holiday periods: at Christmas, at Easter
– Expressions like: at night, at the weekend, at the moment
In is used for:
– Months: in January, in February
– Seasons: in summer, in winter
– Years: in 2023, in 1999
– Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
– Longer periods: in the 21st century
On is used for:
– Days of the week: on Monday, on Tuesday
– Dates: on May 6th, on Christmas Day
– Specific day parts: on Friday morning, on Sunday evening
Remember that some time expressions don’t need prepositions at all, such as: yesterday, today, tomorrow, next week, last month, this year.
Time Prepositions Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct preposition (in, on, at) or a dash (-) if no preposition is needed.
1. I have an important meeting _____ Monday morning.
2. My birthday is _____ March.
3. We always visit our grandparents _____ Christmas.
4. The store closes _____ 9 PM.
5. They’re getting married _____ next month.
6. The concert starts _____ 7:30 PM.
7. I prefer to study _____ the morning.
8. Shakespeare was born _____ 1564.
9. We’re going on vacation _____ summer.
10. The train leaves _____ noon exactly.
Answers to Exercise 1
1. on
2. in
3. at
4. at
5. –
6. at
7. in
8. in
9. in
10. at
Put in the Correct Preposition: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct preposition for each sentence:
1. My brother was born _____ 1995.
a) in
b) on
c) at
2. I always call my mother _____ her birthday.
a) in
b) on
c) at
3. We’re having a party _____ Saturday night.
a) in
b) on
c) at
4. The shops are very busy _____ Christmas.
a) in
b) on
c) at
5. I don’t like driving _____ night.
a) in
b) on
c) at
6. We’re going on vacation _____ two weeks.
a) in
b) on
c) at
d) –
7. She always goes for a run _____ the morning.
a) in
b) on
c) at
8. The conference is _____ June 15th.
a) in
b) on
c) at
Answers to Multiple Choice Exercise
1. a) in
2. b) on
3. b) on
4. c) at
5. c) at
6. d) –
7. a) in
8. b) on
At, In, On – Prepositions of Time: Advanced Practice
These exercises focus on more challenging and sometimes confusing uses of time prepositions.
Exercise: Correct the Errors
Each sentence below contains an error with a preposition of time. Identify and correct it:
1. I was born in Sunday.
2. We’re meeting at 3rd of July.
3. She always feels sleepy on the afternoon.
4. The movie starts on 8 PM.
5. They got married in last summer.
6. I’ll see you on tomorrow.
7. The store is closed at Sundays.
8. We celebrate our anniversary in May 12th.
9. He usually has breakfast on 7 AM.
10. The concert is in Friday evening.
Corrected Sentences
1. I was born on Sunday.
2. We’re meeting on the 3rd of July.
3. She always feels sleepy in the afternoon.
4. The movie starts at 8 PM.
5. They got married last summer. (no preposition needed)
6. I’ll see you tomorrow. (no preposition needed)
7. The store is closed on Sundays.
8. We celebrate our anniversary on May 12th.
9. He usually has breakfast at 7 AM.
10. The concert is on Friday evening.
Prepositions of Time in Context
Complete the paragraph by filling in appropriate prepositions of time:
Sarah arrived (1)_____ London (2)_____ June 15th. She had planned this trip (3)_____ last year. (4)_____ the morning after her arrival, she visited the Tower of London. (5)_____ noon, she had lunch with an old friend. They spent time together (6)_____ the afternoon and planned to meet again (7)_____ the weekend. Sarah will stay in London (8)_____ two weeks and will return home (9)_____ July. She has another trip planned (10)_____ Christmas.
Paragraph Answers
1. in
2. on
3. – (no preposition)
4. In
5. At
6. in
7. at/on (depending on variety of English)
8. for (not a preposition of time, but required here)
9. in
10. at
Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Time
Be aware of these common errors:
1. Confusing at/on with days: We say “on Monday” not “at Monday”
2. Missing prepositions with dates: “on April 1st” not “April 1st”
3. Using prepositions with tomorrow/yesterday: These don’t need prepositions
4. American vs. British differences: “at the weekend” (British) vs. “on the weekend” (American)
5. Forgetting that seasons take “in”: “in summer” not “on summer”
Conclusion: Mastering Time Prepositions
Prepositions of time might seem challenging at first, but with regular practice, they’ll become second nature. Remember the basic patterns:
– At for specific times and certain holidays
– In for months, years, seasons, and parts of the day
– On for days and dates
When in doubt, try to remember common phrases and patterns rather than memorizing isolated rules. The exercises in this article provide a solid foundation for improving your accuracy with time prepositions. Regular practice with these exercises will help you gain confidence and fluency when discussing time in English.
Consider creating your own sentences using these prepositions in different contexts to reinforce your learning. With consistent practice, you’ll master these essential elements of English grammar.