English Learner

In, on and at

A1 to A2 About 10 minutes

The key idea

For place, use at for a point, on for a surface, and in for a space.

Read the rulesTry the quiz

"In", "on" and "at" are three of the most common words in English. They are also a common source of mistakes. For place, "at" marks a point, "on" marks a line or surface, and "in" marks a space with limits. Time has its own patterns. Learn them in the time table below.

By Michael Lip

Time

Time
PrepositionUse it forExamples
atClock times and exact points in the dayat 7 o'clock, at 9.30, at noon, at midnight, at night, at lunchtime
onDays and dateson Monday, on 5 May, on my birthday, on New Year's Day, on Friday evening
inLonger periods: months, years, seasons, centuries, parts of the dayin May, in 2020, in summer, in the 19th century, in the morning, in the afternoon

Points to remember

  • Say in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, but at night.
  • When you name the day, use "on": on Monday morning, not Incorrect example. in Monday morning.
  • British English says at the weekend. American English says on the weekend. Both are correct.
  • Use "at" for a holiday period and "on" for one day: at Christmas, on Christmas Day.
  • "In" plus a length of time means "after that much time from now": The train leaves in ten minutes.

No preposition

Do not use in, on or at before last, next, this, every, today, tomorrow or yesterday.

  • Correct example. See you next week. Not Incorrect example. See you on next week.
  • Correct example. We met last Friday. Not Incorrect example. We met on last Friday.
  • Correct example. I go running every morning. Not Incorrect example. in every morning.

Place

Place
PrepositionUse it forExamples
atA point or an exact position. Also a place seen as the scene of an activity.at the bus stop, at the door, at the corner, at the top of the page, at home, at work, at school, at a party, at 12 Hill Road
onA surface or a lineon the table, on the wall, on the floor, on the second floor, on the coast, on the left, on page 12
inA space with limits: a room, a container, a town, a countryin the kitchen, in a box, in my pocket, in London, in France, in the garden, in the picture

Transport

  • Use on for transport that you can walk around in or that you sit on top of: on the bus, on the train, on a plane, on a ship, on a bike, on a horse.
  • Use in for a car or a taxi: in the car, in a taxi.

At or in for buildings?

Both can be correct. The meaning changes a little.

  • I'm at the cinema. I went there to see a film. The place is the scene of an activity.
  • It was cold in the cinema. You are talking about the inside of the building.

Streets and addresses

  • With a house number, use "at": She lives at 24 Park Street.
  • With only the street name, use "on": She lives on Park Street. British English also uses "in" here: in Park Street.

British and American differences

  • in hospital (British) and in the hospital (American) both mean "there as a patient".
  • at university (British) and in college (American) both mean "studying there".

Common mistakes

Incorrect

I was born in 5 May.

Correct

I was born on 5 May.

Use on for a date.

Incorrect

The meeting is on 3 o'clock.

Correct

The meeting is at 3 o'clock.

Use at for a clock time.

Incorrect

I'll call you at the evening.

Correct

I'll call you in the evening.

Use in for the evening.

Incorrect

She arrived in Monday.

Correct

She arrived on Monday.

Use on for a day.

Incorrect

The picture is in the wall.

Correct

The picture is on the wall.

Use on for a surface.

Incorrect

I'm in home now.

Correct

I'm at home now.

At home is a fixed phrase.

Incorrect

I read it on the newspaper.

Correct

I read it in the newspaper.

Use in for something printed in a newspaper.

Try the quiz

  1. The shop opens ___ 9 o'clock.
  2. My birthday is ___ 14 March.
  3. We moved here ___ 2018.
  4. I'll see you ___ next Tuesday.
  5. The keys are ___ the kitchen table.
  6. She is waiting ___ the bus stop.
  7. They live ___ Canada.
  8. I usually read ___ the train.
  9. He works ___ night and sleeps ___ the morning.
  10. Our office is ___ the third floor.

Check one question at a time

Try the same ten questions here. Check each answer and read the explanation.

Show all answers
  1. at. A clock time.
  2. on. A date.
  3. in. A year.
  4. nothing. No preposition before "next".
  5. on. A surface.
  6. at. A point.
  7. in. A country.
  8. on. Public transport.
  9. at, then in. "At night" but "in the morning".
  10. on. A floor of a building.

Report a mistake

Next step

Practise prepositionsRead about articles
Grammar exercises