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Basic Prepositions: Time and Place - at, in, on and to

Read the story below: I was born in Seattle, Washington on the 19th of April in 1961. Seattle is in the State of Washington in the United States. That was many years ago... Now, I live in Leghorn in Italy. I work at the British School. I sometimes go to a movie on the weekend. I meet my friends at the movie theater at 8 o'clock or later. In the summer, usually in August, I go home to visit my family in America. My family and I go to the beach and relax in the sun in the morning and in the afternoon! In the evening, we often eat at a restaurant with our friends. Sometimes, we go to a bar at night. Look at the chart below: We use in with months - in May seasons - in winter country - in Greece city or town names - in New York times of the day - in the morning, afternoon or evening BUT at night! We use "on" with specific days - on Friday, on New Year's Day, on April the 19th American English - "on the weekend OR on weekends" We use "at" with specific times - at 7 o'clock, at 6.15 at night specific places in a city - at school British English - "at the weekend OR at weekends" We use "to" with verbs which show movement such as go and come - He goes to school. She returned to the store. They are coming to the party tonight.

IN

ON

AT

TO

Fill in the gaps in this paragraph with the prepositions - in, on, at or to. Click on the arrow to see the answer. Janet was born States. Now, she goes the morning likes driving morning. they sometimes go often go Toronto. She usually arrives a disco. the countryside. Rochester classes 8 o'clock. her friend's house 9 Canada. Her friend lives the evening and leaves a restaurant. summer, Sunday night, December 22nd the state of New York 3 o'clock the United weekends, she

the morning. Rochester is

the university> She usually arrives

Saturday, they often meet friends

July for example, they

Are you ready to get mad? The use of the preposition of time is very messy in English. [Use AT] We have to use AT with : (1) clock times (EX) at six o'clock (2) religious festivals (EX) at Christmas, at Easter (3) mealtimes (EX) at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner, at dinner time (4) other specific time (EX) at night, at the weekend , at weekends, at half-term [Use IN] We have to use IN with (1) seasons (EX) in (the) summer, in (the) winter (2) years and centuries (EX) in 2005, in the 21st century, in the next century (3) periods in history (EX) in the Middle Ages (4) months (EX) in February, in November (5) parts of the day (EX) in the morning(s), in the afternoon(s), in the evening(s) (6) certain expressions of future time.(EX) in the near future, in the next few days, in the coming months, in two weeks' time, in a year from now, in a few minutes [Use ON] Formally we have to use ON with (1) days, dates (EX) on Sunday, on Thursday, on March 19th 1986, on January 1st. (2) special days (EX) on Christmas Day, on New Year's Eve, on my birthday. (3) any time phrase which contains the word "day" (EX) on Monday morning, on Friday night. But these ONs in day expressions are quite often omitted, especially in spoken English and newspapers' articles. [Use no preposition] We do not use a preposition with the following time expressions (1) this evening, that day, this week, this Sunday, this year (2) last night, last week, last March, next Friday (3) every evening, all weekend, any Sunday, every August, each year (4) today, tomorrow, tomorrow night, yesterday, yesterday evening (5) the day after tomorrow, the day before yesterday, the week before last, the week after next In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

Hi Paco2004, As usual, you have given an excellent explanation about the usage of prepositions. Thanks much and now I understand the function of preposition 'on'. Just one quick question. We say 'in the morning/afternoon/evening', but not 'in the night'? Would you please explain why do we say 'at night' instead of 'in night'? I am really curious to understand why there is such a difference? You can use "in the night" also. The sense is like "during the night". (EX) They awoke three times in the night. "At night" is used like (EX) We got home at 7 o'clock at night. (EX) My mother used to sew at night. Why do they say "at night"? I have no idea. But my guess is the original sense of the phrase "at night" might be "at nightfall" (point-time). paco Hello!! Could you help me? I'd like to know the difference between: "On the weekend" and "on weekend" Thank you Fabiana
Mensagem: Assunto: Re: On/at weekends Mensagem: You can say "on the

weekend" and "on weekends" as in the examples below. The use of the preposition "at" in this expression however doesn't sound native in AmE. Ex: The party is held every year on the weekend closest to his birthday. Parties are usually held on weekends. The closest possibility of using the preposition "at" would be in the expression "at the week's end".

Preposition Preposition of time

Preposition of location

Preposition of movement Preposition of means

A preposition governs (and usually precedes) a noun or pronoun in order to define its relationship to other words. Here below some categories and examples: For two years, since 1999, I've worked from nine to five. I've always arrived in time for work and finished by 5 o'clock. I used to work until/till midnight, but now I can relax before going to bed, at weekends after 12 noon on Saturdays and during my long summer holiday in July. I work in an office on the 5th floor of the port authority building near the River Thames. I sit at the back by the window with a panoramic view over this important shipping lane. My boss, the oldest among us, sits in front of me. His secretary works opposite him, there's a junior clerk behind her and my colleague Dan sits next to/beside me. There's a filing cabinet between the photocopier and the coffee machine, a clock above the door and a wastepaper bin under each desk. The lunchroom is on the floor below ours I got into my car and drove from Wall Street through Midtown Manhattan and then along the expressway to Long Island. I got out of my car at Montvale Race Track, where I got on/onto a horse. I didn't have to get off the horse because I was thrown from the saddle! You can go to the Chinese restaurant by bus or on foot, but you'll have to eat with chopsticks!

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME
AT
We use at with times: at 5 oclock - at 11.45 - at midnight - at lunchtime Tom usually gets up at 7 oclock. We use at in these expressions: at night - at Christmas - at the moment / at present - at the same time - at weekends at the age of...

ON
We use on with dates and days: on 12 March - on Friday(s) - on Friday morning(s) on Sunday afternoon(s) - on Saturday night(s) on Christmas Day (but at Christmas)

IN
We use in for longer periods of time: in April - in 1986 - in winter - in the 19th century - in the 1970s - in the morning(s) / in the afternoon(s) / in the evening(s)

DURING
We use during + noun to say when something happens: during the film - during our holiday during the night

In + period of time = a time in the future: I fell asleep during the film. We met a lot of interesting people during Jack will be back in a week. our holiday. The train will leave in a few minutes. In + how long it takes to do something: I learned to drive in four weeks.

FOR
We use for + a period of time: for six years - for two hours - for a week Ive lived in this house for six years. They have been watching TV for two hours.

SINCE
We use since + a period of time: since April - since 1992 - since 8 o clock It has been raining since one o clock. Theyve known each other since they were at school.

UNTIL
We use until/till to say how long a situation continues: Lets wait until it stops raining. I stayed in bed until half past nine.

FROM - TO
We use from - to + beginning and end of a period: Last evening we watched TV from 5 to 8 o clock.

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
1 ) AT - IN - ON General Information: AT
We use at for a point:

ON

We use on for a surface: on the wall - on the ceiling - on the floor - on at the window - at the entrance - at the door a page at the end of the street - at the station - at on a cover the top

Bill is waiting for you at the bus stop.

Have you seen the notice on the notice board?

IN
We use in for an enclosed space: in the garden - in the house - in London - in the water in her bag - in a row - in a town There is nobody in the room. She lives in a small village.

Special Information: AT
1. We say that someone is at an event: at a party - at a pop concert - at a conference - at a meeting Tom is at a party. 2. We say at with buildings when we say where the event (film, concert,...) takes place: Where where you yesterday? At the cinema. The meeting took place at the headquarters.

3. We say at someone's house: We were at Bill's house last Thursday.

4. We say at for a place which is a part of our jouney: We stopped at a very nice village. Does the train stopp at Nashville?

ON
1. We use on with small islands: She spent her holiday on a small island. 2. We say that a place is on the coast / on a river / on a road: London is on the river Thames. Portsmouth is on the south coast of England.

IN
1. We say in when we talk about a building 2. We usually say in with towns and itself. villages: The rooms of Tom's house are small. His parents live in York.

Note these expressions: AT


at home - at work - at school - at university - at college - at the station - at an airport - at the seaside - at sea (on a voyage) - at reception - at the corner of a street - at the back / front of a building / cinema / group of people, etc. - arrive at with other places or events

IN
in the newspaper - in bed - in hospital - in prison - in the street - in the sky - in an armchair (sit) - in a photograph - in a picture - in a mirror - in the corner of a room - in the back / front of a car - arrive in a country or town

ON
on a farm - on the left - on the right - on the ground floor - on the first, second,... floor - on the way - on the chair (sit) - on the radio - on television - on a horse - on the corner of a street - on the back / front of a letter / piece of paper etc.

2) TO - INTO - BY TO
We say go / come / travel / fly / walk / return / drive / have been etc. to a place or event: Last year we flew to London. We went to work at seven.

INTO
We say go into / come into etc. = enter a room / building etc.: He opened the door and went into the room.

BY
We say by to say how we travel: We went to Paris by plane. I usually go to work by bike / by car / by underground / by bus

BUT:
we say on foot we cannot use by if you say my car / the train / a taxi Then use in for taxis and cars. Then use on for bike / public transport.

Prepositions
1. Place

in, on, at, under, over, etc.

in a building, in a town, in the water, in a line, in the mountains, in a picture, in a slide, in a photo, in bed, in hospital, in my car, in a taxi, etc.

NB! In an armchair, but on a chair

at the bus-stop, at the window, at the top of (the page), at reception, at home, at work, at school, at university, at an airport, etc. Write your name at the top. I couldnt see well because I was standing at the back.

on the 1st floor, on a page, on a tape, on the left, on the right, on an island, on the way to, on the bottle, on a farm, on the bus, on the bike, on the 6.45 train, etc. Your book is on the table. The book you are looking for is on the top shelf. London is on the river Thames.

NB!

In town as opposed to in the countryside You can often use in or at with buildings in/at a restaurant in/at a hotel

2. Direction

to, toward, into, etc.

to go/come/travel to a place

He has returned to Italy.

Been to Ive never been to a football match.

to go /come into (= to enter a room, etc.) The man the police were chasing ran into the shop. The students ran into the classroom. He got into the car and drove off.

NB!

Phrases without to : to go home, to come home, to get home Im tired. Lets go home.

3. Time

in, on, at, by

in April; in the 21st century; in the 1990s; in (the) winter; in the Middle Ages; in the morning(s), in the afternoon(s), in the evening(s); in four weeks, in a weeks time, in six months time. etc. Ill see you in the morning. I learnt to drive in four weeks.

on 12 March, on Fridays, on Christmas Day, on Thursday morning(s), Ill do it on Monday. They got married on 31 September. I usually go out on Monday evening.

at 5 oclock, at midnight; at lunchtime, at Christmas, at Easter, at night, at the same time, at the age of 16 (= at 16), at the weekend/at weekends, at the moment, at present We can meet at three oclock.

by Monday (= on or before Monday), by 5 oclock (at or before 5 oclock), by then, by that time, etc You should receive the letter by tomorrow.

until Monday, until 11 oclock, etc. (to say how long a situation continues) I was tired, I stayed in bed until half past ten.

NB! Do not use in/on/at before last and next: Ill see you next Friday. They got married last March. Leave out at when you ask (At) what time? What time are you going out this evening? 4. Agent by This book was written by an elderly man. 5. Instrument by, with I heard the news by telephone. (communication) She came by plane. (transportation) He opened the door with a key. (instrument; tool) by phone, by radio, by telegram; by train, by car, by boat; by sea, by air; by hand, by machine, etc. NB! on foot Did you come here by car or on foot? 6. Accompaniment with The like spaghetti with red wine. Mr. Brown went to the bank with his wife. 7. Purpose for He went to the store for bread. NB! Never use for+verb+-ing to express the purpose of the verb. WRONG: He went to the store for buying bread. 8. Partition/Possession of

They painted the front of the building. He broke the top of the table. 9. Measure by, of We buy our rice by the pound. Please buy a quart of milk. 10. Similarity like John looks like his father. 11. Capacity as Bill worked as a lifeguard this summer. [American vs. British English #7] Task (1): Search for the following epressions in the corpus: take a bath, have a bath, take a shower and have a shower. Are they typically used in American or British English texts? (Supply your answer with examples from the corpus.) Task (2): Search for the following epressions in the corpus: at weekends, on weekends, different than and different to. Are they typically used in American or British English texts? (Supply your answer with examples from the corpus.) Task (3): Search for already got and compare the use of verb form (the use of the simple past vs. the present perfective) in the search results.

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