Many students have asked us for simple, helpful guides to difficult grammar points.
With this in mind, we offer you this reference guide on…
IN? ON? AT?
These prepositions can be best understood if one can conceive “TIME” and “PLACE”
TIME
IN = a period of time
Example: IN a century (in the 21st Century)
IN a decade (in the 90’s)
IN a year (in 2011)
IN a month (in July)
ON = day (24 hours)
Example: ON a weekday (on Monday, Tuesday, etc.)
ON his birthday (on July 21)
ON Christmas (on December 25)
ON Independence Day (on July 4)
AT = a specific time
Example:
in the morning
at 6 am
at dawn
at dusk
at daybreak
in the afternoon
at 12 am at 6 pm
at noon at sunset
at midway at twilight
at dusk
in the evening
at 12 pm
at midnight
EXCEPTION: AT NIGHT
PLACE
IN = enclosure (surrounded) IN a box
IN a room
inclusion (a part of) = There’s sugar IN the coffee.
A large area = IN the universe
IN the galaxy
IN the solar system
IN the world
IN a country (in Brazil)
IN a state (in the State of Rio)
IN a city (in Niteroi)
IN a neighborhood (in Copacabana)
EXCEPTION: ON an island, on campus, on the moon, on a farm
AT = a define place
AT a house = at 56 Orlando Dantas Street
AT a home
AT a stop = at C&A
AT a gathering = at a party, reunion, meeting
AT = occupation
Example:
He’s at school = (he’s studying)
He’s at work (he’s working)
He’s at the office
ON = a trip of land
ON a street (on Avenida Atlantica)
ON an avenue
ON a beach
ON a road, highway, turnpike, farm, island
ON a floor = ON the third floor
ON = communications
ON the Internet
ON the air (broadcasting)
ON the radio
ON TV
ON the phone
ON = transportation
ON a bus
ON a train
ON a plane
ON a ship
EXCEPTION: IN a car, IN a taxi
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