Prepositions

Prepositions in, at, on, to

Prepositions of time and date
In
Use 'in' with months, years and periods of time such as decades or centuries:
in January/ in 1978/ in the twenties
Use 'in' a period of time in the future to express that an action will occur after that amount of
time:
in a few weeks/ in a couple of days
At
Use 'at' with an exact time:
at six o'clock/ at 10.30
*Except for the phrase => at all times.
On

Use 'on' with days of the week:

on Monday/ on Fridays
Use 'on' with specific calendar days:
on Christmas day/ on October 22nd

*Important notes*
We say in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening BUT we say 'at night'
Prepositions of place & movement
In
Use 'in' with spaces that you can physically walk into, or place something into. :
in a room / in a building
in a garden / in a park
Use 'in' with static (non-movement) verbs and cities, countries, states, etc.:
stay in the USA/ work in New York
Use 'in' with bodies of water:
in the water/ in the sea/ in a river
Use 'in' with lines:
in a row / in a line/in a queue
At
Use 'at' with places in a town, city or with other static (non-movement) verbs and places:
at the bus-stop/ at the door/ at the cinema/ at the end of the street/ at home
Use 'at' with places on a page:
at the top of the page/ at the bottom of the page
Use 'at' in groups of people:
at the back of the class/ at the front of the class
On

TO

Use 'on' with vertical or horizontal surfaces that you can lay something onto, or attach
something to:
on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor/ on the table
Use 'on' with small islands:
I stayed on Maui.
Use 'on' with directions:
on the left/ on the right/ straight on
Use 'to' with verbs of movement such as go, come, drive, etc.:
go to work/ drive to California

*IMPORTANT NOTES*
In / at / on the corner
We say 'in the corner of a room', but 'at the corner (or 'on the corner') of a street'
In / at / on the front
We say 'in the front / in the back' of a car
We say 'at the front / at the back' of buildings / groups of people
We say 'on the front / on the back' of a piece of paper
The use of ' ' (nothing)
With verbs of movement and the noun 'home' - He went home. - they drove home.
With the verb 'visit' - She visited France last summer.

Exercises (A):
1. The winner of the competition was standing ___ the stage.
a. on
b. in
c. at
2. Everybody sat ___ the floor, but Mr. Spencer sat ___ a chair ___ the corner.
a. over - in - on
b. about - on - at
c. on - on - in
3. The judge poured champagne ___ the glass.
a. into
b. on
c. inside
4. The elderly lady was always ___ home ___ night.
a. at - at
b. in - at
c. into-inside
5. Adriana used to swim ___ the sea and sunbathe ___ the sand.

a. on -at
b. on - in
c. in - on
6. During the week Sam gets up early ___ the morning and goes to bed late ___ night. _____ the
weekends, he usually sleeps until midday.
a. on - at - at
b. in - at - on
c. in - in - at
7. Peter lived ___ 109 Amizade Street ___ 1980.
a. at - in
b. at - on
c. at - on
8. She was born ___ 6:15 ___ the morning ___ May 30, 1984.
a. in - on - at
b. at - in - on
c. on - on - in
9. I'm staying ___ the Jangadeiro Hotel. It's ___ Boa Viagem Ave. ___ Recife.
a. at - in - on
b. in - on - at
c. at - on - in
10. Thomas was born ___ January 9th ___ Buenos Aires.
a. in - on
b. on - in
c. at - on
11. He's arriving from Europe ___ Wednesday.
a. at
b. on
c. of
12. She doesn't work ___ night.
a. in
b. on
c. at
Exercise (B):
1. I'll be ready to leave __IN__ about twenty minutes.
2. Since he met his new girlfriend, Juan is never ___AT___ home.
3. The police caught the thief __AT___ the corner of Cascade and Plum Streets.

4. What are the main ingredients __IN____ this casserole?

5. John, is going __TO___ the store.
6. I like to work __IN___ the garden.
7. I am running ___IN___ the park.
8. I was visiting my best friend __IN___ the hospital.
9. It was snowing ___ON___ Christmas morning.
10. I bought a new dress _AT__ the store.
11. I found my car keys _IN__ my pocket.
12. My friends are waiting _FOR__ me _IN__ the restaurant.
13. Cathy lives her parents _IN_ a small house.
14. We took a taxi _TO__ the airport.
15. I put some clean towels _IN__ the bathroom.
16. Linda rides the bus _TO__ school every day.
17. Steven is talking _TO_ his girlfriend _ON_ the phone.
18. We went _TO__ Boston _ON__ vacation.
19. I stayed __ON__ Penang Island __IN__ 2003.
20. We moved the bookcase _FROM__ the bedroom _TO__ the living room.