T3 Prepositions
H-
Instructor's Notes
LearningCurve activities on prepositions are available at the end of the Troublespots section of this handbook.
Use the prepositions in, on, and at to indicate location and time.
Location
In usually means within a geographic place or enclosed area (in Mexico, in a small town, in the park, in my bedroom, in a car).
On means on top of (on the shelf, on a hill, on a bicycle); it is also used with modes of mass transportation (on a train, on the subway), streets (on Broadway), pages (on page 5), floors of buildings (on the tenth floor), and tracts of private land (on a farm, on the lawn).
At refers to specific addresses and named locations (at 1153 Grand Street, at Nana’s house, at Macy’s), to general locations (at work, at home, at the beach), and to locations that involve a specific activity (at the mall, at the gym, at a party, at a restaurant).
Time
In is used with months (in May), years (in 1999), and seasons (in the fall), as well as with morning, afternoon, and evening (in the morning).
On is used with days of the week (on Wednesday) and dates (on June 2, 2006).
At is used with specific times (at 7:30, at noon, at midnight) and with night (at night).
Change any incorrect prepositions so that in, on, and at convey location and time correctly.
Change any incorrect prepositions to idiomatic usage.
