Grammar Basics
Prepositions In, On and At: Exercises with Answers
Published · Updated · 3 min read
For time, use at for clock times, on for days and dates, and in for months, years and longer periods. For place, use at for a point, on for a surface or line, and in for an enclosed space or area.
In, on and at at a glance
| Preposition | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|
| at | at 7 p.m., at noon, at night | at the door, at the bus stop |
| on | on Monday, on 5 May, on my birthday | on the table, on the wall |
| in | in June, in 2026, in the morning | in the box, in London |
The meeting starts at nine on Friday.
💡 At marks the clock time; on marks the day.
Your phone is on the sofa, not in your bag.
💡 On is a surface; in is inside a container.
I’ll meet you at the station.
💡 The station is treated as a meeting point.
Common mistakes to watch
❌ See you in Monday.
✅ See you on Monday.
Days take on.
❌ She was born on 1998.
✅ She was born in 1998.
Years take in; specific dates take on.
❌ I’ll call you at next week.
✅ I’ll call you next week.
Next, last, this and every usually replace the preposition.
Is it “at the weekend” or “on the weekend”?
Both are correct. At the weekend is more common in British English; on the weekend is more common in American English.
Why do we say “in the car” but “on the bus”?
We are usually in small vehicles we sit inside, such as a car or taxi, and on larger public transport we can walk around in, such as a bus, train or plane.
Grammar reference: British Council on prepositions of time. The lesson explanations and practice questions are original.