The prepositions at, on and in indicate time. Can you use them correctly? Test your understanding with this interactive grammar exercise.
1I usually get up ............... six o'clock.
Wrong!
Use "at" with clock times.
2Phone me ............... lunchtime.
Wrong!
Use "at" with mealtimes such as lunchtime.
3I work best ............... the evening.
Wrong!
Use "in" with parts of the day such as the evening.
4I usually go for a walk ............... the morning.
Wrong!
Use "in" with parts of the day such as the morning.
5We met ............... a cold afternoon in winter.
Wrong!
Use "on" when a day or part of a day is described more specifically.
6I will call you ............... Sunday.
Wrong!
Use "on" with days of the week.
7What are you doing ............... the weekend?
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "at" and "on" are acceptable before the weekend.
8They got married ............... the week after Easter.
Wrong!
Use "in" for periods of time such as a particular week.
9We are having the house painted ............... Easter.
Wrong!
Use "at" for holiday periods such as Easter.
10She finished the report ............... two hours.
Wrong!
Use "in" to say how long it takes to complete something.
11Are you free ............... evening?
Wrong!
Use "this" without a preposition in time expressions such as this evening.
12Let's meet ............... week.
Wrong!
Use "next" without a preposition in time expressions such as next week.
Answers
- I usually get up at six o’clock.
- Phone me at lunchtime.
- I work best in the evening.
- I usually go for a walk in the morning.
- We met on a cold afternoon in winter.
- I will call you on Sunday.
- What are you doing at / on the weekend?
- They got married in the week after Easter.
- We are having the house painted at Easter.
- She finished the report in two hours.
- Are you free this evening?
- Let’s meet next week.