in, on It is at they are prepositions of space or time. Usually they mean "in". In addition, they can mean: à, a, as, to, to. Each context will imply a translation.
Read too: when to use this, that, these It is those?
Topics of this article
- 1 - When to use in?
- 2 - When to use on?
- 3 - When to use at?
- 4 - Expressions with in
- 5 - Expressions with on
- 6 - Expressions with at
- 7 - Solved exercises about in, on and at
when to use in?
- For parts of the day, months, years, centuries, seasons or long periods of time.
The party will be in the evening.
the party will be at the evening.
My birthday is in October.
My birthday is in October.
The 9/11 happened in 2001.
9/11 happened in 2001.
in the 1800s, many things were different.
Us 1800s, many things were different.
leaves fall in autumn.
Leaves fall at the autumn.
Do you believe aliens will appear in the future?
Do you believe that aliens will appear? at the future?
- Location within a larger area.
where is the bathroom inthis restaurant?
Where is the restroom in this restaurant?
ATTENTION: in translates here as "in". This translates as "this". In Portuguese, when we have em + este, we use “in this”.
- Workplaces viewed as physical locations.
She works in a second-floor bureau.
She works in a second-floor government office.
ATTENTION: For farm (farm), we use on.
- With class or classroom (classroom).
please be quiet in class.
Please keep quiet in classroom.
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
when to use on?
- With defined dates and special dates.
A great crime happened on August 6, 1945.
A great crime has happened in August 6, 1945.
What do you like to do on your dad's birthday?
What do you like to do at the your father's birthday?
- With a specific day of the week to refer to a specific event.
The match will be on Thursday.
the match will be at Thursday.
- With a day of the week in the plural, referring to events that are repeated.
The matches are always on Thursdays.
Matches are always to the Thursdays.
- A position on a surface.
The book is on the table.
The book is at table.
ATTENTION: He's on the table. Therefore, we use on. Imagining a table with drawers, if he were inside we would use in.
- A position along a road, river, sea or lake.
My mom's house is on the 5th avenue.
My mother's house is at 5th avenue.
- A floor in a building.
She lives on the 16th floor.
She lives at the 16th floor.
- Referring to being inside a means of transport.
I was on the airplane at that moment.
I was at the plane at that time.
when to use at?
- Specific times, specific times of the day or week, special celebrations.
We'll meet at 5:15.
Let's meet to the 5:15.
At midnight, they sleep.
À midnight, they/they sleep.
Let's talk at the middle of the week.
Let's talk at the middle of the week.
At Columbus's Day, some people think about colonialism.
At the Columbus Day, some people think about colonialism.
- Referring to a place seen as a point in space.
I was at the sofa…
I was at the sofa...
- Workplaces when seen as places of activity.
How many people work at the company?
how many people work at company?
- Activities involving a group of people.
I was at the cinema.
I was at the movie theater.
- With school/university/college.
they were at the college yesterday.
they/they were at college yesterday.
- Treatment venues (such as clinics), including beauty salons.
I'm going to be at the hairdresser then.
I will be at the beauty salon then.
- Most commercial establishments.
I was at the bank when my car stopped working.
I was at the bank when my car stopped working.
Read too: Uses of the impersonal pronoun it in English
expressions with in
- to get in - to enter
- I'm going in - to enter
- to hand in - deliver
- to give in - to give up
- to break in - to break into
- to check in – check in
- to fill in - to fill in
- to turn in – turn someone or yourself over (to the police)
- to join in -to get together
- to blend in - to get mixed up
- to sink in – fully understand after a while
expressions with on
- to carry on - Continue
- to go on - Continue
- eat on - "let's go!"
- to depend on - depending on something or someone
- to build on – use success to go further
- to try on – try on clothes, accessories, etc.
- to decide on - to choose
- to hold on - wait or wait
- to turn on - to connect
- to hit on – flirting / hitting on
- to sit on – wait a while to decide
- to pick on - bully
expressions with at
- to get back at – take revenge on someone, return
- to jump at – accept something with enthusiasm
- to keep at – to persist or force someone to follow through with something
- to laugh at - laugh at someone
- to look at - look at someone or something
- to make oneself at home – feel at home
- to work at – dedicate yourself through work
- to yell at - yell at someone
Read too: Tips for using disappear It is any
Solved exercises on in, on It is at
question 1
Which sentence correctly fits the grammatical situation regarding the use of on, in or at?
A) Please, be quiet in class.
B) Please, be quiet at class.
C) Please, be quiet in class.
D) Please, be quiet, class.
Resolution:
Letter C
As we saw in the content, class requires the preposition in. The correct answer is therefore the letter C. The letter D would be correct, but it does not comply with what is requested in the statement: the analysis of the use of prepositions.
question 2
In a photo shoot, the professional mechanic above hears: — Carry on. What does that mean?
A) Continue.
B) Carry forward.
C) Charge.
D) Stop.
Resolution:
Letter a
We now have the analysis of an idiom. Its meaning is "continue". Therefore, the correct alternative is letter A. Despite to carry meaning “carry”, when associated with on, the meaning of this verb transforms, as we saw in our material.
By Beta Maria Xavier Reis
English teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
REIS, Beta Maria Xavier. "When to use in, on It is at?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/quando-usar-in-on-e-at.htm. Accessed on April 03, 2023.
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