The document discusses the use of the prepositions "at", "on", and "in" with regards to time and place.
For time, "at" is used for specific clock times and points in the day, "in" refers to longer periods like months or seasons, and "on" is used with days of the week and dates.
For place, "at" indicates specific points or locations, "on" describes positions on surfaces or along lines like streets, and "in" refers to larger surrounding areas like cities, buildings, or containers.
An overall pattern emerges where "at" is one-dimensional for time or space, "on" is two-dimensional relating to surfaces
The document discusses the use of the prepositions "at", "on", and "in" with regards to time and place.
For time, "at" is used for specific clock times and points in the day, "in" refers to longer periods like months or seasons, and "on" is used with days of the week and dates.
For place, "at" indicates specific points or locations, "on" describes positions on surfaces or along lines like streets, and "in" refers to larger surrounding areas like cities, buildings, or containers.
An overall pattern emerges where "at" is one-dimensional for time or space, "on" is two-dimensional relating to surfaces
The document discusses the use of the prepositions "at", "on", and "in" with regards to time and place.
For time, "at" is used for specific clock times and points in the day, "in" refers to longer periods like months or seasons, and "on" is used with days of the week and dates.
For place, "at" indicates specific points or locations, "on" describes positions on surfaces or along lines like streets, and "in" refers to larger surrounding areas like cities, buildings, or containers.
An overall pattern emerges where "at" is one-dimensional for time or space, "on" is two-dimensional relating to surfaces
The document discusses the use of the prepositions "at", "on", and "in" with regards to time and place.
For time, "at" is used for specific clock times and points in the day, "in" refers to longer periods like months or seasons, and "on" is used with days of the week and dates.
For place, "at" indicates specific points or locations, "on" describes positions on surfaces or along lines like streets, and "in" refers to larger surrounding areas like cities, buildings, or containers.
An overall pattern emerges where "at" is one-dimensional for time or space, "on" is two-dimensional relating to surfaces
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PREPOSITIONS OF TIME in, on, at
The preposition AT is used in the following descriptions of time:
With clock times: My last train We left at The meeting starts leaves at 10:30. midnight. at two thirty. With specific times of day, or mealtimes: I like to read the He doesnt like Ill go shopping children a story at driving at night. at lunchtime. bedtime. With festivals: Are you going home at Christmas/Easter? In certain fixed expressions which refer to specific points in time: Are you leaving at Hes unavailable We arrived at the the weekend?** at present. same time. I finish the Shes working at course at the end of the moment. April. **Note that in American English, on the weekend is the correct form.
The preposition IN is used in the following descriptions of time:
With months, years, seasons, and longer periods of time: I was born in The pool is The play is set in 1965. closed in winter. the Middle Ages. Were going to He was famous Theyve done work visit them in May. in the 1980s. for me in the past. With periods of time during the day: She usually has a Hes leaving in the I tried to work in sleep in the morning. the evening. afternoon(s). To describe the amount of time needed to do something: You can travel They managed to there and back in a finish the job in two day. weeks. To indicate when something will happen in the future: Shell be ready in Hes gone away but hell a few minutes. be back in a couple of days. The preposition ON is used in the following descriptions of time: With days of the week, and parts of days of the week: Were going to the Ill see you on She usually theatre on Wednesday Friday. works on Mondays. evening. Note that in spoken English, on is often omitted in this context, e.g.: Ill see you Friday. With dates: The interview is He was born on on 29th April. February 14th 1995. With special days: She was born on We move house I have an exam on Valentines day. on Christmas Eve. my birthday.
If we examine these different aspects of usage for the three prepositions, a
general pattern emerges. At is generally used in reference to specific times on the clock or points of time in the day. In generally refers to longer periods of time, several hours or more. On is used with dates and named days of the week.
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE in, on, at
The preposition AT is used in the following descriptions of place/position: With specific places/points in space: I had a cup of She kept the horse Theres a man at coffee at Helens at a nearby farm. the door. (house/flat). I saw her Angies still at The index is at the standing at the bus home. back of the book. stop. Ill meet you at Turn right at the Write your name at reception. traffic lights. the top of each page. With public places and shops: Janes at the Shall I meet you I studied German at dentist/hairdresser. at the station? college/school/university. We bought some bread at the supermarket. With addresses: They live at 70, Duncombe Place. With events: I met her at last years conference. She wasnt at Simons party.
The preposition ON is used in the following descriptions of place/position:
With surfaces, or things that can be thought of as surfaces: Write the number The letter is on my Youve got a dirty down on a piece of desk. mark on your jumper. paper. There was a He had a large She placed her beautiful painting on spot on his nose. hand on my shoulder. the wall. The toy department is on the first floor. With roads/streets, or other things that can be thought of as a line, e.g.: rivers: The bank is on the Koblenz is on the Bournemouth is on corner of Kings Street. Rhine. the south coast. Its the second turning on the left.
The preposition IN is used in the following descriptions of place/position:
With geographical regions: Driving in France Orgiva is a very is very small village in the straightforward. mountains. With cities, towns and larger areas: They were She works Do you like living having a picnic in the somewhere in the toy in Nottingham? park. department. With buildings/rooms and places that can be thought of as surrounding a person or object on all sides: Theres a wedding Ive left my bag in Can you take a seat
in the church this in the waiting room the office. afternoon. please? Lots of people were swimming in the lake With containers: Theres fresh milk I think Ive got a The money is in the in the fridge. tissue in my pocket. top drawer of my desk. With liquids and other substances, to show what they contain: Do you take milk I can taste garlic Theres a lot of fat in your coffee? in this sauce. in cheese and butter. A general pattern again emerges if we consider these different aspects of usage. We can think of at as one-dimensional, referring to a specific place or position in space. On is two dimensional, referring to the position of something in relation to a surface. In is by contrast three-dimensional, referring to the position of something in relation to the things that surround it. Thinking of the prepositions in these terms helps us explain certain facts. For instance, in is generally used for larger places and at for smaller, more specific places.