Lecture Notes: Using 'In', 'On', 'At'

Overview

• Goal: Understand how to use the prepositions 'in', 'on', 'at' correctly.
• Method: 4 Steps - Position, Location, Time, Transportation
• Preparation: Pen and notebook for taking notes

Step 1: Position

Using 'In'

• Indicates being inside something.
  • Examples:
    • "My phone is in my bag."
    • "A bottle of water is in my bag."
    • "My husband is waiting in the car."
    • "When you’re in a library."

Using 'On'

• Indicates being on top of something.
  • Examples:
    • "A laptop is on my desk."
    • "A lamp is on my desk."
    • "A coffee is on my desk."
    • "A bird pooped on my head."

Using 'At'

• Indicates a location along with an activity.
  • Examples:
    • "I did a lot at work today." (Activity: working)
    • "I was at the gym for three hours." (Activity: working out)
    • "My son is at school." (Activity: studying and learning)

Step 2: Location

Using 'In'

• Countries: "I live in England."
• Cities: "My sister is in Paris."
• Neighborhoods/Areas: "I grew up in Clifton."
• Directions (N, E, S, W): Remember to use 'to' when moving toward ("I’m going to Canada").

Using 'On'

• Streets/Roads:
  • "There’s a great Italian restaurant on Park Street."
  • "I used to live on Reno Road."

Using 'At'

• Specific Addresses: "I live at 15 Bacon Burn Road, London."

Step 3: Time

Using 'In'

• Centuries: "I love reading books set in the 1800s."
• Decades: "I think music from the 1970s was the best."
• Years: "I was born in 1989."
• Months: "My birthday is in February."
• Afternoon/Morning: "I go to the gym in the afternoon/morning."
• Seasons: "My family always goes on holiday in summer/autumn/winter/spring."
• Future Start: "I’m going on holiday in five days."

Using 'On'

• Days of the Week: "On Monday, Tuesday, etc."
• Phrases with 'day': "On Valentine’s Day", "On a rainy day"
• Dates: "On the 22nd of February", "On Thursday the 10th"

Using 'At'

• Specific Clock Time: "I’ll meet you at 1 o’clock", "At half past 8"
• Night: "I don’t sleep very well at night"
• 12 o’clock: "At 12 o'clock"

Step 4: Transportation

Using 'In'

• Means of Transport where you can’t move much:
  • "In a car"
  • "In a taxi"
  • "In a truck"
  • "In a limousine"

Using 'On'

• Means of Transport where you can walk around:
  • "On a train"
  • "On a plane"
  • "On a tram"
  • "On a boat/ship"
• Literally on top:
  • "On a motorbike"
  • "On a horse"
  • "On a camel"

Conclusion

• Reviewed 4 steps: Position, Location, Time, Transportation for using 'in', 'on', 'at'
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• Further resources: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Quora (Arnelle's Everyday English)