PREPOSITIONS at / on / in (english)arab

PREPOSITIONS at / on / in

In / at / on expressing time
Study the following examples:
- They arrived at 8 o’clock.
- They came on Tuesday.
- They went in November .
- We left in 2004.

We use the preposition at for the time of day : ( at 6 o’clock – at twelve o’clock – at dinner – at tea time – at night – at the same time – at the weekend ….) .

- I rarely go out at night.
- Shall we go for a picnic at the weekend?
- She is busy working at the moment.
- The two boys arrived home at the same time.

We use the preposition on for days and dates: ( on Sunday / on Sundays – on January 2001 – on my birthday… )

- We’ll visit her on Friday.
- My friend plays football on Thursday.
- Father goes to market on Fridays ( every Friday).

We use the preposition in for longer periods ( months / years / seasons):
( in October – in 1802 – in the 20 th century – in the past – in the future…)
- I’m going shopping; I’ll be back in an hour.
- It often snows in January.

In / at / on used for place.
Study the following examples:
- They live in Algeria.
- Please, wait for me at the bus-stop.
- My house is on the right of the town-hall.

We use the preposition in for something generally big enough to be all around a person: ( in a street – in a town – in a country – in a building or other large place ) in a row – in a queue – in a street – in a picture – in the world …

- The man in this photograph is my father.
- Have you seen the article in the newspaper?

We use at to show a position, a house or an address, a village or a town on a journey: at the back – at 13 , Backer Street – at the supermarket.

- Simon was at the bus-stop.
- They live at 23, Bolton street.
- We stopped at a small village near Bejaïa.

We use on to say that something or somebody is on the right – on the left – on the groundfloor – on a list.

- Our flat is on the second floor of the building.
- We stopped at a small village on the way to Algiers.

EXERCISE 1
Put in at , on or in where necessary.

1. I’ll see you …………… Friday.
2. What are you doing …………… Saturday ?
3. What are you doing ………………the weekend ?
4. They often go out …………… the evenings .
5. They often go out …………… Sunday evening.
6. Do you work …………… Wednesdays ?
7. We usually have a holiday …………… the summer.
8. Sarah got married …………… 2003.
9. Her cousin got married …………… March 2002.

EXERCISE 2
Put in at, on or in :

1. I haven’t seen Sarah for a week. I last saw her …………… Monday.
2. The price of electricity is going up …………… October.
3. I’ve been invited to a wedding …………… 10th April.
4. I hope the weather will be nice …………… the weekend.
5. …………… Saturday night I went to bed …………… 11 o’clock.
6. I don’t like going out …………… night.
7. The telephone and the doorbell rang …………… the same time.
8. Hurry up! We’ve got to go …………… five minutes.
9. Spring begins …………… 21 March and ends …………… 21 June.
10. Mozart was born in Salzburg …………… 1756.
11. Beethoven was born …………… 1770 …………… Bonn, Germany.
12. Bob is a very fast runner. He can run 100 metres …………… 11 seconds.

EXERCISE 3
Complete the sentences with in, at or on:

1. It can be dangerous when children play …………… the street.
2. If you walk to the end of the street, you’ll see a small shop …………… the corner.
3. Is Tom …………… this photograph ? I can’t find him.
4. My office is …………… the first floor. It’s …………… the left as you come out of the lift.
5. Is there anything interesting …………… the newspaper today ?
6. I like to look up at the stars …………… the sky at night.
7. Paris is …………… the river Seine.
8. It was a lovely day. There wasn’t a cloud …………… the sky.