Easy Way of Using on in at

If you learn English online, understanding when to use prepositions can cause quite a headache. We become so used to the way prepositions are used in our native tongue that using them in any other way can seem illogical or absurd.

Luckily, in English, we can identify many specific situations in which the prepositions in , on , and at are used in order to figure out when it is appropriate to use each one. These guidelines help us use the right preposition every time!

How to use in, on and at

Two of the most common contexts in which in , at , and on are used involve identifying where someone or something is (place) and when something happened (time). The charts below explain when these prepositions should be used in the numerous situations of time and place.

In, on & at as prepositions of place

Preposition	Situations	Examples
at	at a very specific point, location, or place	I'm working at the bakery. The shop is at 455 Main Street. Someone is at the door. Is she at a concert tonight? Read the title at the top of the page.
on	on a surface Exceptions : general street names and close to a river	The painting is on the wall. Her ring is on her middle finger. Do you like anything on the menu? I live on Grove Street. The restaurant is on the river.
in	in an enclosed space, or a general area that contains borders or boundaries	She has a penny in her pocket. I left my wallet in the car. The children are in the garden. They live in New York City. I'm staying in France this summer.
Note : When referring to buildings or other confined areas, both prepositions "at" and "in" can be used, depending on the context. If you would like to describe the general location of where someone/something is, you should use "at." For example, "Mary is at the school." However, if you need to emphasize that someone/something is inside the building or area, you can use "in." For instance, "Mary is in the school."

In, on & at as prepositions of time

Preposition	Situations	Examples
at	Specific Times Hours/minutes of the day Times of day ( e.g. dawn, midnight, noon, sunrise, bedtime )	We'll meet you at 6 o'clock. The show starts at 4:45. I hate driving at night.
on	Specific Days and Dates Dates Days of the week Weekends* Holidays* ( e.g., New Year's Eve, Independence Day, Halloween ) Birthdays	The party is on May 5th. They work out on Mondays. I relax on the weekend. He left on Christmas day. We met on Easter. I cried on my birthday.
in	More General Times Months Seasons Years Centuries Time Periods Past/Future Future Times Exception for Times of Day : morning, afternoon, evening	I saw him in August. We ski a lot in the winter. You graduated in 2005. She grew up in the 90s. It was cold in the Ice Age. He was angrier in the past. I'll meet with you in an hour. It was dark in the morning. I eat dinner in the evening.
*Note: In American English, the preposition "on" is used with weekends and holidays, as shown above. However, in British English and other varieties, the preposition "at" can be used with weekends and holidays (i.e., "I went to the park at the weekend" and "I stay in London at Christmas."

At last, you know your prepositions!

Now that you have learned the various contexts in which in , at , and on are used with regard to time and place, you can begin to confidently use these prepositions in your speech and writing. No more guessing or fretting–your English improves now!

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Source: https://preply.com/en/blog/prepositions-in-on-at/

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