Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #112723: At - In - On

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At - In - On - English lesson

AT, IN, ON are prepositions introducing a place or a time. How can we distinguish them and know which one to use in varied circumstances?

1) - AT is a preposition indicating a precise location where people are, or stay: some public places, shops, and precise addresses.

The preposition AT is also used to describe precise moments, hours and moments, the time, and particular precise days .

at the hospital	at a concert
at the cinema	at 9 High Street
at church	at school
at university	at college
at the pool	at the station
at a hotel	at the post office
at the dentist's	at a friend's
at the baker's	at the bank
at home	at work
at his desk	at the entrance
at the bus stop	at the traffic lights
at the crossroads	at the side
at the top	at the bottom
at sea	at the corner
at Easter	at Christmas
at night	at dawn
at 8 o 'clock	at a party

- AT is also used in some set expressions:

at ease	at the beginning
at risk	at once
at best	at worst
at first	at last
be good at + V-ing	be bad at + V-ing

AT is also very often used (especially with such verbs as shoot ( I shot, shot) and throw (I threw, thrown), in order to express aggressiveness or a hostile intention.

- The naughty boy was throwing stones at birds to scare them.

2 ) IN (expressing a location) is used when an element is situated in a closed or restricted location that has limits, in waiting lines, or where speaking about documents, and also to introduce towns and cities, countries, etc. If a movement is added, use into. (Tom came into the room).

- in the kitchen - in a line - in this picture - in your letter...

IN also expresses time: in front of months: in June, in front of the different seasons : in summer, with precise moments of the day: in the afternoon.

in my bedroom	in my office
in my pocket	in the drawer
in my bag	in the corner
in a building	in a house
in a car	in a boat
in a village	in a city
in London	in Texas
In Australia	in hospital
in the country	in the mountains
in a row	in a line/ a queue
in the rain	in the sun
in the fog	in the snow
in the clouds	in the sky
in the universe	in space
in the air	in my hand
in a letter	in the newspaper
in a picture	in a mirror
in the water	in a river

- IN is also used in a few set expressions:

all in all

in sight

in any case

to be in

in my opinion

in many respects

3) ON is used to express time, preceding the days of the week, or precise dates.

- a location, or place is expressed using ON, meaning that an element is placed on a surface. If a movement is simultaneous, use onto.

- on the table - on his bed - on your head...(the cat jumped onto the bed.)

on the floor	on the ground
on the wall	on the carpet
on the bed	on the desk
on earth	on the way
on the left	on the right
on a bus	on foot
on a plane	on a train
on horseback	on a bicycle
on television	on the radio
on the road	on the first floor

- ON is used in some set expressions:

on the one hand ...=>	on the other hand...
on and off	on duty

4) A FEW ODDITIES:

- Hospital and university= AT hospital / IN hospital and AT University/ IN University (depending on the context).

- He arrived at the hospital just as his mother was admitted in it.

- I'm studying for a PhD at the university. / The monument is in the university.

- A few vehicules may be real traitors. You travel IN a car, but ON a bus, ON an airplane, IN a canoe, yet ON a cruise ship... Let's be very careful...

Here you are! Of course, there is a certain logic which will help you, but let's admit that quite a great number of expressions should be learnt by heart, in this lesson! Not funny, is it? But when you know them well, you can't be mistaken! Good luck! I'm sure you'll do well!

BEWARE! The lesson is extremely long, and the expressions you have to remember are many... The text proved to be impossible to be posted in one go. As it is, it's already long and brain-teasing... Therefore, I've decided to go on in another test (number test) in order to make sure you get the success you deserve. Do not hesitate to have a pause and save and start again when your ideas are clear... Go for it, with THE FORCE !

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'Mum, I cannot find the doll that I had left my bed. '
'' Argh Lucy! It must be your drawer or Claire's bag.' Err, after all, I think it’s my desk, my bedroom, the first floor... '
'Mom, I really want it with me the coach... '
'Lucy, we won't take the coach... we'll be a plane tomorrow, not the road. Are you sure you didn't leave your doll the post office, or Dad's car
'Look! I can see it the carpet, the sitting room. my opinion, you should put it away the left of the table, with your things...'

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