Prepostions
The prepositions at, in and on
are often used in English to talk about places (positions) and times. Sometimes
the choice of one over another in a particular phrase or sentence seems
arbitrary. However if we analyse
patterns of occurrence we can identify key concepts in meaning and usage which
consistently apply and can be used as a platform for learning.
- Prepositions of time
The preposition AT is
used in the following descriptions of time:
With clock times:
- My last train leaves at 10:30.
- We left at midnight.
- The meeting starts at two thirty
With specific times
of day, or mealtimes:
- He doesn’t like driving at night.
- I’ll go shopping at lunchtime.
- I like to read the children a story at bedtime.
With festivals:
- Are you going home at Christmas/Easter?
In certain fixed
expressions which refer to specific points in time:
- Are you leaving at the weekend?**
- She’s working at the moment.
- We arrived at the same time.
The preposition IN is
used in the following descriptions of time:
- With months, years, seasons, and longer periods of time:
- I was born in 1996.
- The pool is closed in winter.
- He was famous in the 1980’s.
- The play is set in the Middle Ages.
With periods of time
during the day:
- He’s leaving in the morning.
- She usually has a sleep in the afternoon(s).
To describe the
amount of time needed to do something:
- They managed to finish the job in two weeks.
- You can travel there and back in a day.
To indicate when
something will happen in the future:
- She’ll be ready in a few minutes.
- He’s gone away but he’ll be back in a couple of days.
The preposition ON is
used in the following descriptions of time:
With days of the
week, and parts of days of the week:
- I’ll see you on Friday.
- She usually works on Mondays.
- We’re going to the theatre on Wednesday evening.
Note that in spoken English, on is often omitted in this
context, e.g.: I’ll see you Friday.
With dates:
- The interview is on 29th April.
- He was born on February 14th 1995.
With special days:
- She was born on Valentine’s day.
- We move house on Christmas Eve.
- I have an exam on my birthday.
If we examine these different aspects of usage for the three
prepositions, a general pattern emerges. At is generally used in reference to
specific times on the clock or points of time in the day. In generally refers
to longer periods of time, several hours or more. On is used with dates and
named days of the week.
2. Prepositions of place
The preposition AT is
used in the following descriptions of place/position:
With specific
places/points in space:
- She kept the horse at a nearby farm.
- Angie’s still at home.
- I’ll meet you at reception.
With public places
and shops:
- Shall I meet you at the station?
- We bought some bread at the supermarket.
With addresses:
- They live at 70, Duncombe Place.
With events:
- I met her at last year’s conference. She wasn’t at Simon’s party.
The preposition ON is
used in the following descriptions of place/position:
With surfaces, or
things that can be thought of as surfaces:
- The letter is on my desk.
- There was a beautiful painting on the wall.
- The toy department is on the first floor.
With roads/streets,
or other things that can be thought of as a line, e.g.: rivers:
- Koblenz is on the Rhine.
- Bournemouth is on the south coast.
- It’s the second turning on the left.
The preposition IN is
used in the following descriptions of place/position:
With geographical
regions:
- Orgiva is a very small village in the mountains.
With cities, towns
and larger areas:
- They were having a picnic in the park.
- She works somewhere in the toy department.
With buildings/rooms
and places that can be thought of as surrounding a person or object on all
sides:
- Can you take a seat in the waiting room please?
- I’ve left my bag in the office.
- Lots of people were swimming in the lake
With containers:
- There’s fresh milk in the fridge.
- I think I’ve got a tissue in my pocket.
3. Prepositions at/in/on – extended meanings
A systematic analysis of the occurrence of the prepositions
at, in and on in their core usage as indicators of time and place, helps us
establish some key meaning concepts which will aid us in identifying and explaining
their extended meanings:
- at - is a mechanism for denoting the specific, it usually refers to fixed points in time (e.g.: clock times) and specific points in space.
- on – is a mechanism which usually describes something in relation to a second, often linear dimension, hence it relates to the calendar (days and dates) and surfaces or lines.
- in – is a mechanism for describing something in relation to the things that surround it in time or space, hence it relates to periods of time and three dimensional spaces or containers.
Common Verb and
Preposition Combinations
Verbs and
prepositions are also used in common phrases. The verb generally goes in front
of the preposition.
- Do you agree to the new guidelines?
- You get what you pay for.
- I have no doubt about the outcome of the vote.
- That remark was in bad taste and I don’t intend to reply to it!
- Miller is substituting for Brown in tomorrow’s game.
Common Adjective and Preposition
Combinations
Adjectives and
prepositions are commonly used in phrases. The adjective usually goes before
the preposition.
- He was found guilty of fraud and tax evasion.
- Students often get worried about writing exams.
- The world felt sorry for the victims of the tsunami.
- There are many health risks associated with smoking.
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