THE IDEA, SIMPLY

The rule, with an example

Use at for specific clock times, on for days and dates, and in for months or years. Dependent prepositions belong to particular combinations such as interested in and responsible for.

SEE IT IN CONTEXTThe seminar is on Monday at ten, in the main hall.
Skills to work on in this practice
  • Choose time and place prepositions
  • Recognise useful preposition patterns
  • Explain the meaning of your choice

Learn a preposition with its phrase

UseExampleWhy it works
Clock timeThe session starts at nine.At introduces the specific time.
DayWe meet on Friday.On introduces a day or date.
MonthThe course begins in September.In introduces months, years and many longer periods.

Common mistake

Check: Interested on the subject

Use: Interested in the subject

Dependent prepositions are part of a combination; do not translate them word for word.

How should I practise this?

Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.

MORE PRACTICE · SAME TOPIC

Your four practice sets

4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.

10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.

Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.

Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.

Practise, then understand your answers

10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included

Answer every question to see your score.0 / 10 answered
Question 1

The lesson begins ___ 9:30.

  1. in
  2. on
  3. at
Answer & explanation

at. At introduces a specific clock time.

Question 2

We moved here ___ September.

  1. on
  2. in
  3. at
Answer & explanation

in. In is used with months.

Question 3

The workshop is ___ Friday.

  1. on
  2. at
  3. in
Answer & explanation

on. On introduces a day.

Question 4

She is interested ___ environmental science.

  1. on
  2. in
  3. at
Answer & explanation

in. The standard combination is interested in.

Question 5

Who is responsible ___ booking the room?

  1. for
  2. to
  3. with
Answer & explanation

for. Responsible for introduces the duty or task.

Question 6

The meeting starts ___ nine o’clock.

  1. in
  2. at
  3. on
Answer & explanation

at. Use at for a precise clock time.

Question 7

We moved here ___ July.

  1. in
  2. on
  3. at
Answer & explanation

in. Use in with months.

Question 8

The keys are ___ the drawer; open it to get them.

  1. at
  2. onto
  3. in
Answer & explanation

in. In describes a location inside a container.

Question 9

I have lived here ___ 2020.

  1. during
  2. since
  3. for
Answer & explanation

since. Since introduces the starting point of a continuing period.

Question 10

We waited ___ two hours.

  1. for
  2. since
  3. at
Answer & explanation

for. For introduces the duration, here two hours.

SET 2 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes

Build the pattern

Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.

1. The workshop begins ____ half past two.

Answer & explanation

at

The workshop begins at half past two.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

2. We always meet ____ Fridays.

Answer & explanation

on

We always meet on Fridays.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

3. Her birthday is ____ September.

Answer & explanation

in

Her birthday is in September.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

4. Your ticket is ____ the envelope.

Answer & explanation

in

Your ticket is in the envelope.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

5. The painting hangs ____ the wall.

Answer & explanation

on

The painting hangs on the wall.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

6. I have worked here ____ March.

Answer & explanation

since

I have worked here since March.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

7. They stayed ____ three nights.

Answer & explanation

for

They stayed for three nights.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

8. The train travels ____ Oxford to London.

Answer & explanation

from

The train travels from Oxford to London.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

9. She walked ____ the room and closed the door.

Answer & explanation

into

She walked into the room and closed the door.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

10. He is interested ____ photography.

Answer & explanation

in

He is interested in photography.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

SET 3 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes

Check the details

Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.

1. We arrived ____ the station early.

Answer & explanation

at

We arrived at the station early.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

2. They arrived ____ France yesterday.

Answer & explanation

in

They arrived in France yesterday.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

3. Please put the cup ____ the shelf.

Answer & explanation

on

Please put the cup on the shelf.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

4. The concert is ____ 12 June.

Answer & explanation

on

The concert is on 12 June.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

5. I often read ____ night.

Answer & explanation

at

I often read at night.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

6. We went there ____ bus.

Answer & explanation

by

We went there by bus.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

7. She is good ____ solving puzzles.

Answer & explanation

at

She is good at solving puzzles.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

8. I borrowed a pen ____ my friend.

Answer & explanation

from

I borrowed a pen from my friend.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

9. This key belongs ____ the caretaker.

Answer & explanation

to

This key belongs to the caretaker.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

10. He apologised ____ the delay.

Answer & explanation

for

He apologised for the delay.

Choose by the relationship: at a precise time, on a day, in a month or enclosed space, since a starting point, for a duration.

SET 4 OF 4 · 20–30 minutes

Use it yourself

Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.

1. Give the time and day of a meeting.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use at with a clock time and on with the day.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

2. Describe where an item is inside a container.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use in to express enclosure.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

3. Describe an object touching a flat surface.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use on for a supporting surface.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

4. Describe movement from outdoors to inside a building.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Into expresses movement across the boundary.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

5. Say how long a past activity lasted.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use for plus a duration.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

6. Describe a situation continuing from a named starting point.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use since with the starting point and an appropriate perfect form.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

7. Describe travel between two places.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use from for the origin and to for the destination.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

8. Write about a skill you do well.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Good at takes a noun or an -ing form.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

9. Ask to borrow an item from a person.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Use borrow something from someone.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

10. Write an apology for being late.

What to check

Your wording can vary.

Apologise for can be followed by a noun or an -ing form.

Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.

Printable practice

Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.

Open printable worksheet →
BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE

Can you use it yourself?

Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.

1. Explain or repair

Repair: We meet in Monday on nine.

Check the reasoning

We meet on Monday at nine. On introduces the day; at introduces the clock time.

2. Make the meaning

Arrange a meeting with a day, a time and a month.

Compare a possible answer

We will meet on Friday at ten in June. The prepositions match the different time units.

Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.

RELATED PRACTICE

Phrasal verbs for study & everyday life

Learn useful verb combinations through context.

Phrasal verbs for study & everyday life →