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In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use prepositions of time - at, in, on correctly.

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Conversation practice

Answer the questions. Pay attention to the prepositions used in the questions and make sure you use the same prepositions in your answers.

  1. Do you eat lunch at 12 o’clock?
  1. Do you take a day off on the 24th of December?
  1. Do you wake up tired in the morning?
  1. Do you sometimes wake up at night?
  1. What do you usually do on Friday evening?
  1. Do you ski in winter?
  1. Do you get up late at the weekends?
  1. Do you feel tired on Monday morning?
  1. Do you go to the gym on Wednesdays?
  1. Were you a student in 2018?
  1. Do you go on holiday in June?
  1. What time do you leave the house for work every day?
  1. Do you sometimes work at the weekends?
  1. When was the last time you worked at night?
  1. Do you focus better in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening?
🤔
-Which preposition was used before specific days? -Which preposition was used before years? -Which preposition was used before specific times? -Which preposition was used before months? -Which preposition was used before seasons?

Theory

Read the theory carefully. Can you see the patterns? All phrases under the + sign are some exceptions to the rules.

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Exercise 1

Choose the correct preposition:

  1. ... the evening
  1. ... 7 pm
  1. ... night
  1. ... 15 May 1998
  1. ... Friday morning
  1. ... sunset
  1. ... winter
  1. ... August
  1. ... the weekend
  1. ... the morning
  1. ... sunrise
  1. ... Wednesday
  1. ... Wednesday evening
  1. ... March
  1. ... March 15
  1. ... March 15, 1863 (American English)
  1. ... 15 March 1863 (British English)
  1. ... autumn
  1. ... the afternoon
  1. ... 11:30
  1. ... July
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Exercise 2

Fill in the gaps in the quotes given below and then check your answers by watching those clips!

A. “It’s 5:30 ... the morning.”

 

B. “Sometimes late ... night I can still hear the screaming.”

 

C. “Those little spelling tips will come in handy when you're at home ... Saturday nights playing Scrabble with Monica!”

 

D. “Tomorrow is Saturday. I'm flying to Chicago to see my daughter. I'll be back to work ... Monday.”

 

E. "It's 8:15 ... the morning until 5:00 ... the afternoon, 45 minutes for Iunch.”

 

F. "(Do) You think this hoteI is going to cash a $1 ,000 check ... 3:00 a.m.?”

 

G. "You fell asleep?" "It was 5:30 ... the morning”

 

H. "We're having lunch ... 12:30 with the Attorney GeneraI.”

 

I. "You don’t recall seeing Amber Heard ... May, 24th. Correct?”

J. "You're gonna Ieave ... 10:00 a.m. No matter what, take a taxicab, be there ... 10:00 a.m." "In two days I'II be there ... 10:00 a.m. no matter what.”

 

K. "While most people come to Japan ... spring for the cherry blossoms, not that many come ... winter for sightseeing.”

L. "Is this the picture you took of yourself ... March of 2019”

M. "Well, get some sleep. You'll feel better … the morning.”

N. "Do you understand?" "Yeah, but I think you..." "Now, school ends … 2:30. I want you to go to the library … 2:33, and study until I pick you up there … 5:30. Understood?”

O. "So the muffins need to go in the oven for thirty to thirty-five minutes. See? You can do this … a Sunday afternoon and then for the next three, four days you've got muffins to grab and go at breakfast time. Easy. Can't wait to taste one.”

Are you ready for more?

There’s more to this topic than what I’ve just shown you. If you feel that you understand this topic, let’s take it to the next level! Check out those materials: link

You’ll learn why you should say ‘I’ll be ready in 5 minutes’ and many more!

 

Answer key

Exercise 1
  1. in the evening
  1. at 7 pm
  1. at night
  1. on 15 May 1998
  1. on Friday morning
  1. at sunset
  1. in winter
  1. in August
  1. at/on the weekend
  1. in the morning
  1. at sunrise
  1. on Wednesday
  1. on Wednesday evening
  1. in March
  1. on March 15
  1. on March 15, 1963
  1. on 15 March 1863
  1. in autumn
  1. in the evening
  1. at 11:30
  1. in July