Explanation
At, in, on – prepositions of time
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➪ Use at with times of day, including mealtimes, bedtime, etc.
- at 3 o’clock, at 10.30 am, at noon, at dinnertime, at bedtime, at sunrise, at sunset, at the moment
➪ Use in with months, seasons, years, decades, centuries and long periods of time in general.
- in May, in the summer, in 1990, in the 1990s, in the 20th century, in the Ice Age, in the past/future
➪ Use on followed by days and dates.
- on Sunday, on Tuesday mornings, on 6 March, on 25 December 2010, on Christmas Day, on Independence Day, on my birthday, on New Year’s Eve
➪ Use at in the following common expressions:
- at the weekend: I don’t usually work at the weekend.
- at Christmas/Easter: I stay with my family at Christmas.
- at the same time: We finished the test at the same time.
- at present/at the moment: He’s not home at present. Try later.
➪ Parts of the day:
- in the morning
- in the afternoon
- in the evening
- at night
Last, next, every and this
When we say last, next, every, this we do not use at, in, on.
- I went to London last June. (NOT
in last June) - He’s coming back next Tuesday. (NOT
on next Tuesday) - I go home every Easter. (NOT
at every Easter) - We’ll call you this evening. (NOT
in this evening)
