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
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?
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?
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.
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 learnt to drive in four weeks. it took me four weeks to learn)
EXERCISES
120.1 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 he 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 metres ---.
120.2 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.
120.3 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 travelling --- night.
12. We travelled 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.
120.1
2 on Sundays.
3 at night.
4 in the evening.
5 on 21 July 1969.
6 at the same time.
7 in the 1920s.
8 in about 20 minutes.
9 at the moment.
10 at Christmas.
11 in the Middle Ages.
12 in 11 seconds.
120.2
2 a. on b. at
3 a. in b. on
4 a. on b. -
5 a. in b. at
6 a. in b. on c. -
120.3
1 in 2 on 3 in
4 on 5 in 6 in
7 at 8 on 9 at
10 On Saturday night ... at 11 o'clock
11 at
12 at 5 o'clock in the morning
13 on 7 January ... in April
14 in
15 on Tuesday morning ... in the afternoon
16 in 17 at 18 on
19 in
