BBC Learning English:‘at’, ‘on’ or ‘in’? #shorts

in, on, at
Fill in the blanks.
1). I’m ( ) the city centre.

2). I’m ( ) the Carnaby street.

3). I’m ( ) London.

4). I’m ( ) work.

5). I’m ( ) the fourth floor.

6). I’m ( ) my desk.

Now tell us where you are using, in, on, at.

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

Let’s dive into the differences among in, on, and at. These prepositions are commonly used to refer to locations, times, and situations, but each has its own specific use cases. I’ll cover the basics and provide examples for each one.

1. “In”
General Use: “In” is used when talking about something that is inside a larger space, within boundaries, or a period of time.

Place: In is used for enclosed or defined spaces.

Examples:
“in the room”
“in the car”
“in the city”
“in a building”
Time: In is used for longer periods of time (months, years, centuries, and seasons).

Examples:
“in May”
“in 2024”
“in the 21st century”
“in the summer”
Other Uses: It can also be used for locations on a larger scale or within certain boundaries.

Examples:
“in the kitchen”
“in Japan”
“in a magazine”
2. “On”
General Use: “On” is used when referring to surfaces, days of the week, dates, and public transportation.

Place: On is used for surfaces or things seen as surfaces.

Examples:
“on the table”
“on the wall”
“on the floor”
“on the roof”
Time: On is used for days and dates.

Examples:
“on Monday”
“on Christmas Day”
“on July 4th”
Transportation and Communication: On is also used for modes of transportation and communication.

Examples:
“on a bus”
“on a plane”
“on the internet”
“on the phone”
3. “At”
General Use: “At” is used to indicate specific points or locations, exact times, and specific events or locations where activities occur.

Place: At is used for specific points or precise locations.

Examples:
“at the door”
“at the corner”
“at the bus stop”
“at the bank”
Time: At is used for precise times.

Examples:
“at 3:00 PM”
“at midnight”
“at sunrise”
Events and Activities: It is also used for events, buildings, or locations where activities happen.

Examples:
“at the concert”
“at work”
“at the party”
“at the gym”
Summary Table
Usage “In” “On” “At”
Place in the city, in the room on the table, on the floor at the door, at the bus stop
Time in 2024, in summer, in the morning on Monday, on July 4th at 3:00 PM, at midnight
Transportation in a car, in a taxi on a bus, on a plane –
Events/Activities in a meeting, in a movie on the internet at the concert, at the party
These prepositions may vary slightly by context, but this framework can help you get the basics right! Let me know if you’d like examples in other situations or a specific topic.