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ValenESL
Prepositions: How to use IN, AT, and ON in English
In this English lesson, I explain how three prepositions — ‘at’, ‘on’, and ‘in’ — are used in relation to time. A lot of students get confused with these words. If you have any questions about this lesson, leave a comment below. You can ask me other questions you have at the engVid Forum.
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Comments
75 Comments on “Prepositions: How to use IN, AT, and ON in English”
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david christopher
i love this teachings i am very thankful to you thank you very for your lessons.
love you.
i am from india.
Thanks, David. I’m so glad you were able to benefit from viewing the lesson.
Which part of India are you from?
All the best to you.
RebeccaESL
Nilo_M.
Thank you for the lesson.
This clears up many thing in my head.
What I need now is practice,practice,practice.
That’s right, Nilo!
RebeccaESL
Ahmed Hamza
Thank you too much for your very interesting and benefit lesson
really I was confused too much about their uses
RebeccaESL
Hi David, Nilo & Ahmed
Glad the video helped you. Don’t worry if it takes you time to get the prepositions straight in your mind because they are one of the most commonly confused areas of English grammar. That’s because prepositions are used so differently in various languages and because there are many exceptions, along with the rules.
You’re right, Nilo, a lot of practice is the best way to remember them.
Try to master the prepositions a few at a time. Write out your own sentences with them, so you get comfortable, and do lots of examples. There are also many ESL /EFL learning sites where you can get such practice & also check your answers.
Good luck to all of you! Let me know if there are other grammar points which particularly bother you.
Rebecca
Almir
Very good, thank you
Thanks for your feedback, Almir.
RebeccaESL
deborahmax
Very nice lesson. Right on, Rebecca! Thanks for your help.
Wishing you the best. Debbie.
Glad I was able to help, Debbie.
RebeccaESL
marcos
Very nice video, my english it’s not basic, but as you told, we all do this little mistakes, and was nice to see how you explain that. And the best, same to a basic lesson you didn’t speak to slow, that is good because other good videos are nice, but sometims in low speedy.
Oh one more thing, I am not basic neither advanced, so sorry for some mistakes… rssss
Congratulations…
Don’t worry about making mistakes, it’s the best way to learn.
Glad the pace and content of the lesson suited your needs, Marcos. All the best to you. Have fun as you learn!
RebeccaESL
simant
thanks a lot :-)
Glad I could help you. Prepositions can be confusing.
All the best to you.
RebeccaESL
davidan
Hi Rebeca
Please i wish i had lesson with you. How i request lesson face to face?
Are you coming to Toronto? You are welcome to join one of our English programs at Diplomat Language School. Would be happy to meet you and help you.
RebeccaESL
rehmat
hi Rebaca very nice lesson with you. like face to face lesson I feel like you are in front of me teaching a lesson thanks.All the best to you
Glad I could help and thanks for your feedback.
RebeccaESL
Julia
Yes!you are super brilliant!thanks much!
Kifah
Hi Rebecca
Thanks a lot for your nice lectures really interesting .
ann
Hello Rebaca my name is Orawan I want to learn english about transitive verb and insitive verb , Please tech me.
Thank you.
RebeccaESL
Thanks for your feedback everyone. Ann, I will try and do a lesson for you on what you have asked.
adil_english
I’m adil i’m from Algeria, i was watching your lesson is very good and clear, you are very good and beautiful teacher.
good luck
Thank you kindly. Glad I could help you.
RebeccaESL
gilll
thanks alot
Welcome!
RebeccaESL
faissal
beautiful Teacher with clears lessons that’s very good , thank you RebeccaESL you are the best
Wow, thanks so much for all the compliments. So glad I can help you learn English. My best wishes to you, Faissal.
RebeccaESL
onthemoon
Thank you very much . I m from Mongolia . My name is Enkhtuya .
I understood your lesson a good . I m enjoying study English .
I want to study English more .
Thank you very much . I m glad that I found this English lesson .
Good luck
Veeresh
Thank you very much, I am from India, My name is veeresh, This first class, I enjoyed your less simple & very sweet,
my week point is like …some time for seaching for words & i could not able to properly make sentance
I think it will help lot for me.
Keep reading, listening, writing and speaking as much as possible. The only way to improve is to use the language as often as you can. You can do it!
My best wishes to you, Veeresh.
RebeccaESL
I’m also from India.. Mr.Veeresh needs so much training.. Learn proper English soon..
pupesh
engVid
That’s why he’s on a site with free English training, pupesh! That’s the *only* reason to use this site, actually!
Boo
Another confusing topic for me. But thanks to Rebecca, she made it clear and I just need to get familiar with it.
Just one observation, I don’t think you included “during”, as you used it instead of “in” to represent period of time (the middle ages). However, it is also a preposition. ;)
baohuy91
you help me improve my english and refresh my memories…Thank you very muck. With the best for you.
Your students…
RebeccaESL
Thanks to all for your suggestions.
student–it
thanks so much
your explanation is very clear.
before your explanation I got 4/10 after that 10/10
my regards
Riva
This lesson is very very useful for me.
Thank you very much!
Alessandra
Hi Rebecca, I’ve been watching your videos, and wow, aren’t they great!
I’m Brazilian and an English teacher in Brazil.
I’d like to know more about prepositions (our worst troublemaker), especially to and for. Which should I use “I sang the song to Mary” or “I sang the song for Mary?”; “This gift is for you” or “This gift is to you”?
thanks for now
hope to get you video class soon
sohail amin
hello it’s a very good lesson you r realy god teacher i like you very much plz send me your id mine is that sohailamin786@yahoo.com
Anyse
I do not want to sound too picky; however, when you talk about a “specific” time in relation to the use of the preposition “at,” you say “a particular period of time.” It is either specific or it is not. Using the phrase “period of time” is, in all cases, useless: especially, when teaching English. So, here is my suggestion.
The use of “at” is only for a specific time! That is it! For example, you may say, “I will meet you at 5 o’clock.” You cannot say “I will meet you at 5 to 6 o’clock.“ ”5 to 6 o’clock” is too broad and is NOT specific as it refers to 60 specific times (if only using minutes for a reference) and so on. You can not say, “I will meet you at Easter break.” Again, when will you actually meet that person? On Monday? Well, if you will meet on Monday, there are 24 different hours that you can meet someone if only using hours as a reference. You must use a specific time, on the clock (hours, minutes or time reference such as noon, midnight and so on). Therefore, if you can point to the clock and pick out a specific time, then you may say, ”I will meet you at (noon, midnight, 3 o’clock in the afternoon, 5 o’clock in the morning, 3 pm, 5 am, 3:30 pm and so on.
The use of the phrase “period of time,” among those who have academic degrees in English or who speak English at all, should be vehemently discouraged! I hope that this suggestion helps and, should you take this very seriously, that you will re-do this video, excising this phrase altogether.
Thank you.
Anyse (pronounced “a niece”)
aracela52
good,i will try to learn more,Rebeca could you help with one tip but dont mixing the words when i write thanks
Nadia
Thank you so much for your lessons!!!
I am from Russia and find your videos incredibly useful!
Thanks again!
Ranu
Hi Rebecca.
which one of these is correct?
I am lying on bed?
or
I am lying in bed?
Thanks, Ranu
Leen
thank you so much
Valldecy
Hello, Rebecca. I am Waldecy from Brasil.Glad for all your lessons. They´re really hepful to me. Thank you so much. I intend to tell my friends about theses free videos. Each lesson is so great. May God bless you so much
You are really a great teacher! My english is improving greatly.
But I have a question on this: what is the right sentence?
-I am in a square-
-I am on a square-
-I am at asquare-
nati
HELLO!I’M FROM GEORGIA. I LIKE THIS LESSONS VERY MUCH. I WANT TO SEE MORE AND MORE LESSONS. I LOVE YOU
Neelam777
very helpful lesson, Thanks a lot Rebecca.
Sam
Hi Rebecca,
You are kind of mother terraca for people who are facing problem to improve english. In all your collegues, your style is so simple and highly effective and your accent is so understandable. Your video is amazing. Thanks for help dear.
Cheers
zhanbolat
Thanks a lot. i have question.Why we must put on in that place ? example Their wedding is scheduled to be held _____ August 8th. Correct answer is on. Why isnt correct in?
Abdifatah
thank u teacher for helping us these words,am in the united state and also am starting Mizzou university i usually try to make research but fortunately i met this web site in my first time.now am good at prepositions,i appreciate u this teacher from your student
Mehari
How are you Rebeca. Thankyou a lot. I’m from east Africa .You are so kind and hamble. I felt free when I was writing this comment. I have one quastion. Could you give me an advice how to study effectively. Thanks for your time. Have a wonderful time for you and family. bye for now.
bala murgan
Dear Mam,
Glad to undergo ur free online training. The video’s were so effective; that could clear many of my basic doubts. But mam how about the usage of place name after preposition?
Eg:
The inaugural ceremony is going to take place at bangalore/in bangalore
which one is correct?
Thanks
Thamer
may I introduce myself , my name is Thamer from Iraq , I going to get TOFEL so I see all engvid lesson :) and It’s importent to say : THANK YOU SO MUCH.
with my best regard
Thamer
Oops all engvid “lesson” without “s” !!! and THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Ysky
hi, miss! I have some questions about it. How we say “christmas”? Is it “at” or “in”?
rolfmar
Good day,
This my first to see this video , I’m really interested to learn more in English ,I’m from Philippines starting today i watching you’re video everyday and practice .
Thank you
moo
hi
thank you very much for this lesson
oussama
hy rebica i love you and your lessons
thank you verry much.
and i want to ask you if there is some lessons from phonitics.thank you
Snehal
Thank u Rebecca. U ar a very good teacher. I was always made a mistake with these prepositions. But this video help me out.
I am from india – mumbai.
I like to watch ur ESLvideos.
updesh
I DON’T KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU?
YOUR LESSON ARE OWESOM
Rom
This simple basics in english is great,I admit i still do a lot of mistakes on how to use them!..Still confuses me, thanx to you and more power!..
diini
Thank you so much yor good techer
Cyberangel
Thank u Rebecca, your way of teaching is very clear and understandable.
you explained us how to use prepositions in relation to time. Can you please explain it in other relations.
Regards,
Cyberangel
I have one question, can we use AT with MORNING usually we use IN with MORNING…
One more question, can we use prepositions with TODAY, TOMORROW, YESTERDAY???
rachida
thanks soo mutch good thanks
simoziko
If I say ( My father works on the farm.) Is it right or wrong.
Thank you.
Patrick
Second question is little confusing. I thought it was correct to use ‘at’ because it’s a specific time.
MUDDASIR
THANKS A LOT MAM
I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
…….THE FALL, THE FOREST IS BREATHTAKING.
I AM WAITING FOR YOUR KIND REPLY
Arnob
Hi Rebecca, You are the best one i have ever seen who can make the lesson very easy and interesting to learn. The way you explain is fantastic. we will be benifited if you provide us more Vid on Preposition.
All the best.
Arnob
pupesh
Veeresh doesn’t know anything.. He can learn Englich on his own instead of depending on online materials like yours
pupesh
Rebecca you need to improve your tone of voice more.. I’m an English teacher and I’m completely dissatisfied with you.
Pradeep
Hi Rebecca, This is nice video of prpositions (At,In,and ON) but in this video you have explian only about time , day/date and Months, but I have request you please tell me or reply on this comment how to use these prpositions in another area?
Awaiting for your reply.
Rosa
In North America, Christmas is celebrated _____ December 25th.
at
on
in
Their wedding is scheduled to be held _____ August 8th.
at
on
in
Their wedding is scheduled to be held _____ August 8th.
at
on
in
Whay this is wrong you said in goes with moths
pashall
I’m learning English with Rosetta program and it teaches that: “i work in morning”, opposite to “i work at night”. Why is it? Thank you!