Dates and Time

We use phrases with prepositions as time adverbials:

At

At is used with:
‘Clock times’ at seven o’clock – at ten thirty – at eight fifteen
Mealtimes  at breakfast – at lunch – at dinner
Other phrases at night – at the weekend – at Christmas

In

In is used with:
Seasons in spring/summer/autumn/winter
In the spring/summer/autumn/winter
Years/centuries in 2013 – in 1968 – in the twenty first century

On

On is used with:
Days on Monday/Tuesday etc – on Valentines day – on her birthday
Dates on the 13th of June – on the 16th of April

At night

At night is used to refer to the whole night but in the night is used for a short time during the night.
I couldn’t sleep at night.
I woke up twice in the night.

Ago

Ago is used with the past simple to show how long an action happened from the time of speaking.
I spoke to James a few hours ago.
Half a century ago nobody would have even dreamed about the technology we have today.

We can combine time phrases:
I’m meeting Sarah next week at nine o’clock on Friday.
I phoned her at about ten o’clock yesterday evening.

Lesson by Tristan, teacher at EC Malta English school

Choose the right preposition for the following:

• 1. I’ll tell Peter about the party when I see him _ the morning.
  
  on
  at
  in
  
  
• 2. We had an interesting discussion _ lunch after the meeting.
  
  in
  on
  at
  
  
• 3. Shops are normally closed _ Sundays.
  
  on
  at
  in
  
  
• 4. We moved out of the city to the country five months _ .
  
  at
  ago
  in
  
  
• 5. Do you have any shops that are open _ night?
  
  at
  in the
  on the
  
  
• 6. The view from the balcony is best _ .
  
  on spring
  in the spring
  at spring
  
  
• 7. This palace was built _ the fifteenth century.
  
  at
  on
  in
  
  
• 8. James didn’t come to work _ Monday.
  
  at
  in
  on