Preposition with time expressions AT time specific point

Preposition with time expressions • AT (+ time) – specific point of time. • At 10 o’clock, at noon, at lunchtime, at midnight, at dawn, at sunset, at dust • It is also used in the following expressions: at Christmas, at Easter, at New Year, at the moment, at what time?

IN (+ month/year) • In is used for longer period of time – weeks, months, seasons, years, centuries • In January, in 2001, in the spring, in the future • IN is with a certain part of the day: • In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, in the middle of the night

ON (+ day/date) • On Tuesday, on April 1, on his birthday, on Christmas eve, on Wednesday night NOTE: Do not use the preposition ON before next and last. e. g. She is going to China next Friday.

Exercise: Complete the following sentences with AT, IN or ON or (-) if no preposition is necessary 1. 2. The robbery occurred ___ the morning of November 5. ___ Chinese New Year, you may receive many red pockets. 3. What do you like doing ___ the weekend? 4. In many schools the term ends ___ December 24. 5. If I’m not there, phone again ___the evening. 6. Do you like to have a party ___ your birthday? 7. ___the age of 19, he was already an experienced performer. 8. I’ll meet you ___Friday morning at the bus-stop. 9. I hope deflation will decrease___ next year. 10. Simultaneously means ___the same time.

Preposition with time expressions (II) • AT NIGHT means late in the evening before we go to bed. • E. g. He likes to go to a karaoke lounge at night. • IN THE NIGHT means during the night after we have gone to bed. • E. g. They were disturbed by a thief in the night.

• AT THE END means at the time which something finished. • E. g. at the end of the month, at the end of the course • E. g. The Japanese language course will finish at the end of February • IN THE END means finally and we specifically use it to state a final conclusion. • E. g. The couple experienced a lot of problems so in the end they got divorced. • NOTE: • What happened at the end of the film? Oh, in the end they got married.

• ON TIME means punctual or not late. • E. g. Students are expected to arrive on time. • IN TIME means soon enough to do something, especially when arriving at a place. • E. g. I want to get home in time to see the film on TV.

Exercise: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A punctual person usually arrive _____ She was suddenly woken up ______ He arrived just _____ to catch the flight. In HK we can some panoramic views ___ of December we can celebrate Christmas. 6. ___ the couple decided to emigrate to Canada.