Prepositions

Prepositions

1. IN

   • Time
     • for longer periods (months/years/seasons)
       • in October, in 1998, in (the) winter
     • In a few minutes / in six months/ in a moment
       • The train will be leaving in a few minutes. (= a few minutes from now)
       • Andy has gone away. He'll be back in a week. (= a week from now)
     • in the morning(s)/ in the evening(s)/ in the afternoon(s)
     • IIN time (for something / to do something) = soon enough:
       • Will you be home in time for dinner? (= soon enough for dinner)
     • IN the end = finally
       • We had a lot of problems with our car. We sold it in the end. (= finally we sold it)
   • POSITION
     • in a line / in a row / in a queue
     • in the sky / in the world/ in the country
     • in an office / in a department
     • in a book / in a newspaper / in a magazine / in a letter
     • in a picture / in a photo / in a photograph
     • in bed
     • in the front / in the back (of a car)
       • I was sitting in the back (of the car) when we crashed.
     • in the corner of (a room)
       • The TV is in the corner of the room.
     • in hospital / in prison / in jail
     • in with cities, towns and vilLages
     • in a car / in a taxi

2. AT

   • Time
     • for the time of day
       • at five o'clock, at 11.45, at midnight
     • in these expressions
       • at weekends
       • at Christmas
       • at the moment = at present
       • at the same time
     • AT the end (of something) = at the time when something ends
       • at the end of the month, at the end of January, at the end of the game
   • POSITION
     • at the top (of) / at the bottom (of) / at the end (of)
       • Write your name at the top of the page.
     • at the front / at the back of (building / group of people)
       • We were at the back, so we couldn't see very well.
     • at the corner or on the corner of (a street)
       • There is a small shop at/on the corner of the street.
     • at work / at school / at university / at college
     • At a party / at a concert
     • at the station / at the airport
     • at somebody's house
     • at when we think of the place as a point or station on a journey

3. ON

   • Time
     • for days and dates
       • on Friday, on 16 May 2009, on my birthday
       • you can leave out ON before days
         • I'll see you Friday
     • ON time = punctual, not late
       • The conference was well-organised. Everything began and finished on time.
   • POSITION
     • on the left / on the right / on the left-hand side
     • on the first floor / on the second floor
     • on a map / on a menu / on a list
     • on the front / on the back of a letter / piece of paper etc.
       • I wrote the date on the back of the photo.
     • on the way
     • on a river / on a road / on the coast
     • on a bus / on a train / on a plane / on a bike