Prepositions of time are words placed before time expressions to show the relationship between an action and a specific moment or period in time. They help answer the question “When?”
Examples:
- The meeting starts at 9:00.
- We have English class on Monday.
- She was born in 2006.
The most commonly used prepositions of time in English are in, on, and at, each of which is used with different types of time expressions.
Using AT for Specific Times
The preposition at is used to refer to precise points in time. These are exact moments rather than long periods.
| Common uses | Examples |
| – Clock times: at 7:30, at 10:00 – Certain expressions: at noon, at midnight, at sunrise – Some fixed phrases: at the moment, at night | The class begins at 8:00. I usually go to bed at midnight. The train arrived at noon. |
Using ON for Days and Dates
The preposition on is used when referring to days and specific dates. These are slightly broader than exact times but still refer to particular points in the calendar.
| Common Uses | Examples |
| Days of the week: on Monday, on Friday Specific dates: on March 15th, on July 1st Special days: on my birthday, on New Year’s Day | I have an English exam on Tuesday. The meeting is on April 10th. We visit our grandparents on Sunday. |
Using IN for Longer Periods
The preposition in is used with longer periods of time, such as months, years, seasons, or parts of the day.
| Common Uses | Examples |
| Months: in January, in May Years: in 2024, in 1999 Seasons: in winter, in summer Parts of the day: in the morning, in the evening | I was born in 2007. Many people travel in summer. She studies English in the evening. |
