Use in for the biggest units of time, such as months, years, and seasons, on for specific days and dates, and at for exact times, as in I was born in 1995, we have a meeting on Monday, or the party starts at 8 o’clock. Night is an exception and always uses at.
Grammar Rule
Use in for the biggest unit (month/year/season), on for the specific day, and at for the exact time. Night is an exception: it always uses at.
In, On, At for Time: Rules and Examples
| Preposition | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | months, years, seasons, parts of the day | I was born in 1995. She goes to the gym in the morning. |
| on | specific days and dates | We have a meeting on Monday. |
| at | exact times and night | The party starts at 8 o’clock. I always sleep well at night. |
Remember: in for months/years/seasons, on for days/dates, at for times and night.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below choosing correctly between in, on, and at for time. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Prepositions of Time – In, On, At (Consolidation with Extended Uses)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do you use in for time?
Use in for the biggest units of time, such as months, years, seasons, and parts of the day, as in I was born in 1995 or she goes to the gym in the morning.
When do you use on for time?
Use on for specific days and dates, as in we have a meeting on Monday.
When do you use at for time?
Use at for exact times, as in the party starts at 8 o’clock.
Why is night an exception?
Night always uses at instead of in, as in I always sleep well at night, even though other parts of the day use in.