Prepositions of Time & Place in English

Updated: • Level: A1–B1 • Length: ~8–10 min

Essentials: Use at for points, on for surfaces/days, in for larger areas/periods.

الخلاصة: نستخدم at للنقطة، on للسطح/الأيام، in للمساحات/الفترات الأكبر.

Diagram showing at/on/in for time and place
at • on • in — time & place at a glance

Prepositions of Time — at / on / in

PrepositionUseExamplesترجمة
at Clock times; precise moments; some fixed expressions at 7:30 • at noon • at night • at the weekend (BrE) • at the moment عند/في وقت محدد: عند 7:30، عند الظهر، ليلاً، في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع (بريطاني)، في هذه اللحظة
on Days & dates; specific day parts with a day on Monday • on 12 May • on Monday morning • on New Year’s Day على/في للأيام والتواريخ: يوم الاثنين، 12 مايو، صباح الاثنين
in Months, years, seasons, long periods; parts of day (general) in June • in 2024 • in spring • in the morning/afternoon/evening في للأشهر والسنوات والفصول: في يونيو، في الصباح/المساء

Note: at night (most common). In the night = during the night (less common).

ملاحظة: نقول غالبًا at night. أما in the night فتعني "خلال الليل" ونادرة.

Other Time Prepositions

  • for + period: I studied for two hours. • since + point: I’ve lived here since 2020.
  • for مدة: درست لمدة ساعتين. • since نقطة بداية: أعيش هنا منذ 2020.
  • during + noun: during the meeting. • in + period to mean “after”: I’ll call you in 10 minutes.
  • during + اسم: أثناء الاجتماع. • in + مدة: سأتصل بك بعد 10 دقائق.
  • by (deadline): Finish it by Friday. • until/till (up to): I worked until 11.
  • by حتى موعد نهائي: أنهِه بحلول الجمعة. • until حتى: عملت حتى 11.
  • from…to/until: from 9 to 5; from June until August.
  • from…to: من 9 إلى 5؛ من يونيو حتى أغسطس.

Prepositions of Place — at / on / in

PrepositionCore IdeaExamplesترجمة
at Point/location (address/event); institutions (no article) at the door • at the bus stop • at home/school/work • at 25 King St نقطة/مكان: عند الباب، عند الموقف؛ في المنزل/المدرسة/العمل
on Surface; public transport; technology/media on the table • on the wall • on the bus/train/plane • on TV/the radio على سطح: على الطاولة؛ على الحافلة/القطار؛ على التلفاز/الراديو
in Inside/enclosed area; towns/countries; private vehicles in a room • in a box • in London/Egypt • in a car/taxi • in bed داخل/محاط: في غرفة، في لندن؛ في سيارة/تاكسي؛ في السرير
  • on foot, on the phone, on the second floor (AmE: second floor = BrE: first floor).
  • تعابير ثابتة: on foot سيرًا، on the phone على الهاتف.
  • in a car/taxi but on a bus/train/plane/ship (shared/public spaces).
  • نقول in السيارة/التاكسي ولكن on الحافلة/القطار/الطائرة.

Tricky Comparisons (and UK/US differences)

  • at night ✅ vs in the night (rare, “during the night”).
  • at night صحيحة، أما in the night فنادرة وتعني "خلال الليل".
  • at the weekend (BrE) vs on the weekend (AmE). Both: at/on the weekend.
  • في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع: بريطاني at، أمريكي on.
  • in the morning (general) vs on Monday morning (specific day).
  • in the morning عام، وon Monday morning مع يوم محدد.
  • at school = present there; in school (AmE) = enrolled. at university (BrE) ~ in college (AmE).
  • at school في المدرسة (حضورًا)، in school (أمريكي) مسجّل دراسيًا.
  • on the street (AmE) ~ in the street (BrE) — both heard.
  • نسمع on the street (أمريكي) وin the street (بريطاني).

Exercises

1) Choose at / on / in (Time)

  1. The meeting is ___ 3 p.m.
  2. We arrived ___ Monday.
  3. My birthday is ___ July.
  4. He studies ___ the evening.
  5. They’ll call ___ the weekend. (AmE: on / BrE: at)

2) Choose at / on / in (Place)

  1. The keys are ___ the table.
  2. She’s waiting ___ the bus stop.
  3. I live ___ Cairo.
  4. We sat ___ the car for an hour.
  5. He’s ___ the train right now.

3) Pick the correct time preposition

  1. I’ve worked here ___ 2019. (for/since)
  2. We’ll finish ___ Friday. (by/until)
  3. She slept ___ the movie. (during/for)
  4. The shop opens ___ 9 ___ 5. (from/to)
Answers

1) Time

  1. at
  2. on
  3. in
  4. in
  5. on (AmE) / at (BrE)

2) Place

  1. on
  2. at
  3. in
  4. in
  5. on

3) Other time

  1. since
  2. by
  3. during
  4. from … to

1-Minute Quiz

Choose the best answer.