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English grammar

at, on, in for time

A0 · Starter Place and direction Questions 10

The rule

English uses three different words for time and the choice depends on how big the piece of time is. at for a clock time: at nine, at half past three. on for a day or a date: on Monday, on the tenth of May. in for anything longer: in April, in the morning, in 2026. The smallest takes at, the largest takes in.

Pattern

at nine · on Monday · in April · in the morning

Examples

  1. The class starts at nine o'clock.

  2. I work on Monday.

  3. My birthday is in April.

  4. I work in the morning.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: in Monday

    Right: on Monday

    A day of the week always takes on.

  • Wrong: in nine o'clock

    Right: at nine o'clock

    A clock time always takes at.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    The lesson starts _____ ten.

    1. in
    2. on
    3. to
    4. at
    Show answer

    Answer: D The lesson starts at ten.

    A clock time → at.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    The shop is closed _____ Sunday.

    1. on
    2. at
    3. by
    4. in
    Show answer

    Answer: A The shop is closed on Sunday.

    A day → on.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    My course starts _____ January.

    1. in
    2. from
    3. at
    4. on
    Show answer

    Answer: A My course starts in January.

    A month → in.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    The doctor is here _____ the afternoon.

    1. on
    2. at
    3. by
    4. in
    Show answer

    Answer: D The doctor is here in the afternoon.

    A part of the day → in.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    My appointment is _____ the tenth of May.

    1. at
    2. to
    3. on
    4. in
    Show answer

    Answer: C My appointment is on the tenth of May.

    A date → on.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. My husband works at night.
    2. My husband works in night.
    3. My husband works by night time.
    4. My husband works on night.
    Show answer

    Answer: A My husband works at night.

    at night is fixed — it does not follow the in-the-morning pattern.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. What do you do at the weekend?
    2. What do you do by the weekend?
    3. What do you do on weekend?
    4. What do you do in the weekend?
    Show answer

    Answer: A What do you do at the weekend?

    A weekend takes at in this variety of English.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    I start work at eight o'clock

    Show answer

    Answer: I start work at eight o'clock.

    The time goes at the end.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    The exam is on Friday

    Show answer

    Answer: The exam is on Friday.

    A day takes on.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I have an appointment in Wednesday.
    2. I have an appointment at two.
    3. I have an appointment in April.
    4. I have an appointment on Wednesday.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I have an appointment in Wednesday.

    A day of the week takes on, not in.

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