Prepositions of Time and Place: English Grammar Guide

Prepositions are small but powerful words that show relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence. Among the most common types are prepositions of time and prepositions of place — essential for describing when and where something happens.

This guide will explain how to use them correctly, provide examples, and highlight common mistakes learners make.

What Are Prepositions of Time and Place?

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens — such as at, on, or in.
Prepositions of place indicate where something happens — such as at, on, or in as well.

Interestingly, the same prepositions (like at, on, in) can refer to both time and place depending on the context.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time help you describe moments, days, or periods when something happens. The main ones are at, on, and in.

1. At – For Specific Times

Use at when referring to an exact or specific time.

Examples:

• I wake up at 7 a.m.

• The party starts at midnight.

• We usually have lunch at noon.

• Let’s meet at the weekend. (British English)

Tip: Use “at night” (not “in night”).

2. On – For Days and Dates

Use on for days of the week, specific dates, and special days.

Examples:

• I work on Mondays.

• Her birthday is on June 10.

• We met on Christmas Day.

• The exam is on Friday morning.

Tip: Don’t use “in” or “at” for days — always use “on.”

3. In – For Months, Years, Seasons, and Long Periods

Use in when referring to longer or less specific time frames.

Examples:

• I was born in 1998.

• The flowers bloom in spring.

• We’ll go on vacation in August.

• She moved to Cebu in the 1990s.

Tip: Use “in the morning/afternoon/evening,” but “at night.”

Other Prepositions of Time

Besides at, on, and in, there are other prepositions to express different time relationships.

1. Before / After

Used to show something happens earlier or later than another event.

Examples:

• I brush my teeth before going to bed.

• We had dinner after the movie.

2. During

Used to show something happens within a period.

Examples:

• I studied during the summer.

• Please don’t talk during the meeting.

3. Since / For

Used to describe duration or starting points (with the present perfect tense).

Examples:

• I’ve lived here since 2015.

• He’s been waiting for an hour.

4. Until / Till

Used to show the end of a time period.

Examples:

• The shop is open until 10 p.m.

• I stayed awake till midnight.

5. By

Means “no later than” or “before a deadline.”

Examples:

• Please finish the report by tomorrow.

• He’ll be here by 6 p.m.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place describe the location or position of something. Again, the most common are at, on, and in.

1. At – A Specific Point

Use at when referring to a specific point or location.

Examples:

• Let’s meet at the bus stop.

• She’s at the door.

• I work at a restaurant.

• They’re waiting at the airport.

Tip: Think of “at” as a point location rather than an area.

2. On – A Surface

Use on when something is touching or attached to a surface.

Examples:

• The keys are on the table.

• There’s a picture on the wall.

• I live on Main Street.

• The book is on the shelf.

Tip: “On” often means “touching” or “supported by” something.

3. In – Enclosed Space or Area

Use in when something is inside a space, area, or volume.

Examples:

• She’s in the kitchen.

• The toys are in the box.

• I live in Cebu City.

• The cat is sleeping in the car.

Tip: Use “in” for countries, cities, and large areas.

Other Prepositions of Place

There are many more prepositions to describe precise locations.

1. Under / Below

Used when something is lower than another object.

Examples:

• The cat is under the bed.

• The temperature is below zero.

2. Above / Over

Used when something is higher than another object.

Examples:

• The picture is above the sofa.

• The plane flew over the mountains.

3. Between / Among

Used to describe position relative to multiple things.

Examples:

• The bank is between the school and the park.

• He feels safe among friends.

4. Next to / Beside / Near

Used for close proximity.

Examples:

• The shop is next to the pharmacy.

• Sit beside me.

• There’s a park near my house.

5. Inside / Outside

Used for location relative to an enclosed space.

Examples:

• The cat is inside the box.

• Let’s wait outside the theater.

Comparing Prepositions of Time and Place

Some prepositions are used in both contexts, but their meanings differ depending on whether they refer to time or location.

Notice how the same word changes meaning depending on whether it’s related to time or space.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Time and Place

1. ❌ I’ll meet you in Monday.
   ✅ I’ll meet you on Monday.

2. ❌ He’s waiting in the bus stop.
   ✅ He’s waiting at the bus stop.

3. ❌ There’s a picture in the wall.
   ✅ There’s a picture on the wall.

4. ❌ I was born on 1995.
   ✅ I was born in 1995.

5. ❌ Let’s meet on the evening.
   ✅ Let’s meet in the evening.

Understanding the function of each preposition helps avoid these common errors.

Quick Reference Chart

Practice Examples

Try filling in the blanks with the correct preposition:

1. I was born ___ April.

2. The cat is sleeping ___ the bed.

3. We’ll meet ___ the airport at 6 p.m.

4. The book is ___ the shelf.

5. My birthday is ___ Monday.

6. She’s been here ___ 2019.

7. Let’s go out ___ the evening.

8. The picture is hanging ___ the wall.

(Answers: in, under, at, on, on, since, in, on)

Conclusion

Prepositions of time and place are small but crucial words that clarify when and where things happen. Mastering at, on, and in is the foundation, while learning others like under, beside, and during helps you describe events and locations precisely.

With consistent practice, you’ll naturally know which preposition fits — making your English sound smoother, clearer, and more confident.

FAQs

What are prepositions of time and place?

Prepositions of time and place are short words that connect nouns or pronouns to the rest of a sentence in order to express when and where something happens. Time prepositions include at, on, and in for moments, days/dates, and longer periods. Place prepositions include at, on, and in for point locations, surfaces, and enclosed spaces. Mastering these helps you communicate schedules, appointments, positions, directions, and spatial relationships with precision.

How do I choose between at, on, and in for time?

Use a “zoom” rule of thumb: the more specific the moment, the “smaller” the preposition.

• at: exact points in time (at 6:30, at noon, at midnight, at night).
• on: days and dates (on Monday, on June 10, on Christmas Day, on Friday morning).
• in: months, years, seasons, and longer spans (in August, in 2026, in spring, in the 1990s, in two hours for future duration).

How do I choose between at, on, and in for place?

Think about the spatial scale:

• at: point location or event site (at the door, at the bus stop, at the airport, at home).
• on: surfaces or lines (on the table, on the wall, on the beach, on Main Street, on the coast).
• in: enclosed or three-dimensional spaces and larger areas (in the room, in a car, in a building, in Cebu City, in the Philippines).

What are common mistakes with these prepositions?

Frequent errors include mixing day/month rules and confusing surface vs. enclosure:

• ❌ I’ll see you in Monday. → ✅ on Monday.
• ❌ I was born on 1998. → ✅ in 1998.
• ❌ She’s waiting in the bus stop. → ✅ at the bus stop.
• ❌ The picture is in the wall. → ✅ on the wall.
• ❌ Let’s meet on the evening. → ✅ in the evening (but at night).

When do I use since, for, by, until, and during?

• since: starting point to now (I’ve lived here since 2019).
• for: duration (I’ve lived here for five years).
• by: no later than a deadline (Finish it by Friday).
• until/till: up to an end point (Open until 10 p.m.).
• during: within a period (No phones during the exam).

Is it “in the morning,” “on the morning,” or “at morning”?

Use in for general parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening. Use on when the part of the day is linked to a specific day: on Monday morning. Use at for at night and exact clock times: at 7 a.m.

Is it “at the weekend” or “on the weekend”?

Both are correct depending on dialect. At the weekend is common in British English; on the weekend is common in North American English. Choose the form that matches your target audience or follow the style guide you use.

How do prepositions change meaning between time and place?

Some forms overlap but the relationship differs:

• at for time = a point (at 5 p.m.); for place = a point location (at the gate).
• on for time = days/dates (on Tuesday); for place = surfaces/lines (on the floor, on Line 2).
• in for time = longer periods (in July); for place = enclosed/bounded areas (in the box, in Cebu).

How do I express future time limits and expectations correctly?

Choose precisely:

• by + time/date for deadlines (Send it by 6 p.m.).
• in + duration for time until something happens (I’ll call you in 10 minutes = after 10 minutes).
• within + period to set a maximum window (We’ll respond within 24 hours).
• until to show continuity up to a point (We’re open until Sunday).

What prepositions of place show vertical relationships (over/under/above/below)?

Use these to describe relative height or coverage:

• under: directly beneath and possibly touching or covered (The cat is under the table).
• below: lower than, not necessarily directly beneath (Temperatures are below zero).
• over: movement across or covering (The plane flew over the city; a cloth over the table).
• above: higher than without contact or coverage (The clock is above the door).

How do I use between, among, next to, near, and beside?

• between: position relative to two (sometimes more distinct) points (The café is between the bank and the park).
• among: within a group without clear boundaries (She felt safe among friends).
• next to/beside: immediately adjacent (Sit beside me).
• near: close but not necessarily adjacent (There’s a pharmacy near here).

Can the same noun take different prepositions with different meanings?

Yes, context changes meaning:

• at school (location/activity), in school (enrolled), on school grounds (surface/area).
• at the beach (general site), on the beach (on the sand), in the water (inside the sea).

Choose the preposition that best matches the specific relationship you want to express.

How do I talk about transportation with prepositions?

Transportation follows conventional pairings:

• on a bus/train/plane/ship (shared vehicles with aisles and the sense of being “on board”).
• in a car/taxi/van (smaller enclosed vehicles).
• at the station/airport/port (point location), on Platform 2, in the terminal.

What are concise strategies to self-check my prepositions?

Try these tests:

• Time scale test: Is it a precise moment (use at), a day/date (on), or a longer span (in)?
• Space model test: Is it a point (at), a surface/line (on), or an enclosed area (in)?
• Contact vs. containment: Touching a surface (on) vs. inside boundaries (in).

How do I fix sentences with the wrong preposition quickly?

Identify the relationship first, then swap to the correct form. Example corrections:

• ❌ We met in Friday morning. → ✅ We met on Friday morning.
• ❌ The keys are in the table. → ✅ The keys are on the table.
• ❌ I’ll be there on 7 p.m. → ✅ I’ll be there at 7 p.m.
• ❌ She waited on the bus stop. → ✅ She waited at the bus stop.

Can I start a sentence with a preposition?

Yes. Prepositions can begin sentences, especially in fronted adverbials or prepositional phrases for emphasis and flow. For example: In the evening, we study. or At the station, I called you. Just ensure the sentence remains clear and the prepositional phrase genuinely adds context.

What practice can help me master these quickly?

Build habits around patterns and spaced repetition:

• Create a three-column chart (at/on/in) for time and add your weekly plans.
• Label rooms or objects at home with on/in/under/behind phrases.
• Rewrite a daily schedule twice: once with time prepositions, once with place prepositions.
• Record five sentences daily using one “difficult” pair (e.g., over vs. above).

Quick reference: What’s the essential cheat sheet?

For time: at + clock times & night; on + days/dates; in + months/years/seasons/long spans. For place: at = point, on = surface/line, in = enclosure/area. Use since/for for duration logic, by for deadlines, until for continuity, and during for activities inside a period. When in doubt, apply the scale model and ask: “Is it a point, surface, or space? A moment, day, or period?”

English Grammar Guide: Complete Rules, Examples, and Tips for All Levels