Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time are words like in, on, at, and during that tell us when something happens. They help us talk about exact times, days, and periods clearly.

What You'll Learn

You already know that in, on, and at are used with months, days, and times. In this lesson, you will:

• Use in, on, and at with parts of the day, specific days, and exact times (e.g., "in the morning", "on Monday", "at 3 o'clock")
• Learn when to use during to talk about something that happens within a period of time
• Understand special exceptions like at night and at noon

When to Use

1. Parts of the day: "We have assembly in the morning."
2. Specific days: "Our CCA is on Wednesday."
3. Clock times: "Recess starts at 10 o'clock."
4. Within a period: "Please keep quiet during the assembly."

How to Form

Choosing In, On, or At for Time

Using "During"

During tells us that something happens within a period of time. It is always followed by a noun (not a time like "3 o'clock").

Key Rules

1. "In" for parts of the day: Use in with morning, afternoon, and evening. Say "in the morning", not "at the morning".

2. "At" for night: Even though morning, afternoon, and evening use in, we say "at night" (not "in the night"). This is a special rule to remember.

3. "On" for any named day: Whether it is a day of the week (on Tuesday) or a special occasion (on National Day), use on when you name the day.

4. "At" for exact times: Whenever you give a clock time, use at. Examples: at 8 a.m., at half past two, at 3 o'clock.

5. "During" needs a noun: Always follow during with a noun or noun phrase, never a time word. Say "during the concert" (correct), not "during 3 o'clock" (wrong).

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Use "in" when you see:

morning, afternoon, evening, month names (January, February...), years (2024, 2025)

Use "on" when you see:

Monday, Tuesday... Sunday, dates (5 March, 10 July), special day names (New Year's Day, Hari Raya)

Use "at" when you see:

o'clock, a.m., p.m., noon, midnight, night, dawn, lunchtime, breakfast

Use "during" when you see:

a noun phrase that describes a period: the lesson, recess, the holidays, the exam, the show

Tip: Think of it this way -- in is for big time blocks (morning, months), on is for named days, and at is for exact points in time. During means "while something is happening."

Practice Tips

1. Size rule: The bigger the time, the bigger the preposition word. In = big periods (months, parts of the day). On = medium (days, dates). At = small, exact (clock times). This pattern helps you pick the right one.

2. The night exception: Practise saying "at night" out loud five times. This is the one exception to the rule that parts of the day use in. The more you say it, the more natural it will feel.

3. During test: When you see during, check that the next word is a noun (like "recess" or "the show"), not a clock time or a day. If it is a clock time, switch to at. If it is a day, switch to on.

Quick Reference