One of the issues that raises questions about who are studying English prepositions ( prepositions ). As in the Portuguese language, prepositions in English are also used to link elements of the sentence.
In , on and at are prepositions used to refer mainly to time and place .
See below when using in , on and at :
In
In is a preposition used to indicate time and place. Its meaning depends on the context to which it is applied, being, for example, “inside”, “in”, “de”, “no” and “na”.
Time indication
With regard to time, we can say that in is used to indicate periods of longer and less defined times, for example, a part of the day , a month , a year , etc.
Look at the examples:
Of the day : in the afternoon ( afternoon)
I study English in the afternoon. (I study English in the afternoon.)
Exception: when the day part is at night , at and not in : The show will be at night are used. (The show will be in the evening.)
One year nomination : in 1999 (in 1999)
She was born in 1999 . (She was born in 1999.)
One month nomination : in June (in June)
His birthday is in June . (His birthday is in June.)
See also Date in English and Months of the year in English .
Season : in the winter (in winter)
We love to travel in the winter . (We love to travel in the winter.)
Place indication
When referring to a place, we must use the preposition in when talking about larger places like cities , countries , states , parts of a house , etc.
Look at the examples:
City : in Rio de Janeiro (in Rio de Janeiro)
They live in Rio de Janeiro . (They live in Rio de Janeiro.)
Country : in Brazil (in Brazil)
He has a company in Brazil . (He has a company in Brazil.)
Part of the house : in the living room (the room)
We prefer to watch TV in the living room . (We prefer to watch TV in the living room.)
On
On is a preposition used to refer mainly to specific dates and days and to surfaces of places .
As with in , it can be translated in different ways depending on the context of the sentence where it is applied.
Their meanings can vary, for example, between “about”, “over”, “above”, “in”, “no” and “na”.
Time indication
Let’s look at some examples of using the preposition on to refer to specific dates and days:
Specific date : on October 6th . (on October 6)
My boyfriend’s birthday is on October 6th . (My boyfriend’s birthday is October 6.)
Specific day : on Mondays (on Mondays)
The boys play soccer on Mondays. (The boys play football on Mondays.)
Place indication
Note the use of the preposition on to refer to surfaces of locations
- The fruits are on the table . (The fruits are on the table.)
- The book is on the shelf. (The book is on the shelf.)
NOTE: we also use the preposition on with some electronic means , for example: on the phone , on the Internet ; and with some means of public transport , for example, on the bus (on the bus), on the plane (on the plane) and on the subway (on the subway).
At
At is a preposition used in expressions that indicate specific times , times and places . Depending on the context in which it is inserted, it can mean “à (s)”, “em”, “na” and “no”.
Time indication
See below the use of the preposition at indicating times:
- The meeting will begin at 10 am . (The meeting will begin at 10 am.)
- Our flight arrived at nine o ‘clock. (Our flight arrived at nine.)
Place indication
- My brother is at home. (My brother is at home.)
- We had lunch at school yesterday. (We had lunch at school yesterday.)
See also: Hours in English
Diagram
Below you will find a diagram with the uses of each of these propositions:
Check the expressions used in the diagram:
In the 21st century (In the twenty-first century)
In the 1990s (Over 90s)
In 2012 (In 2012)
In February (in February)
In the morning (the morning)
In the afternoon (in the afternoon)
In the evening
On Monday (On Monday)
On the 25 th (On the 25th)
On February 25 th (On February 25)
On Christmas Day ( On Christmas Day / Christmas)
On Easter Day ( On Easter Day / Easter)
On New Year’s Day ( On New Year’s Day / New Year’s Day )
At Noon (At noon)
At Midnight (At midnight)
At 7 o’clock (7 am)
At 7:30 am ( 7:30 am)
At Christmas (At Christmas)
At Easter (at Easter)
At New Year’s (the New Year)
Vestibular Issues
1 . (UNESP-1986) Check the correct alternative:
Fried potatoes are called “French Fries” __________ the United States.
a) on
b) about
c) of
d) from
e) in
Answer
Alternative e) in
2 . (UFPE) Some 63,000 of the boat people have wound up ____________ the British crown colony of Hong Kong,…
a) in
b) across
c) on
d) behind
e) over
Answer
Alternative a) in
3 . (Fuvest-adapted) Complete with the necessary words:
I was born __________ 2 o’clock __________ the morning, __________ a Sunday __________ April __________ the year 1958, on aa farm in a small village called Sta. Cruz, in the state of Goiás, Brazil.
a) on / in / on / in / in
b) on / in / on / in / of
c) at / in / on / in / of
d) at / in / in / in / of
Answer
Alternative c) at / in / on / in / of