In Your Words...

Monday, September 17, 2012

Time and Place - at, in, on and to

Read the story below:

     I was born in Seattle, Washington on the 19th of April in 1961. Seattle is in the State of Washington in the United States. That was many years ago... Now, I live in Leghorn in Italy. I work at the British School. I sometimes go to a movie on the weekend. I meet my friends at the movie theater at 8 o'clock or later. In the summer, usually in August, I go home to visit my family in America. My family and I go to the beach and relax in the sun in the morning and in the afternoon! In the evening, we often eat at a restaurant with our friends. Sometimes, we go to a bar at night. 

Look at the chart below:
IN
We use in with months - in May
seasons - in winter
country - in Greece
city or town names - in New York
times of the day - in the morning, afternoon or evening
BUT at night!

ON
We use "on" with specific days - on Friday, on New Year's Day, on April the 19th
American English - "on the weekend OR on weekends"

AT
We use "at" with specific times - at 7 o'clock, at 6.15
at night, at noon
specific places in a city - at school
British English - "at the weekend OR at weekends"

TO
We use "to" with verbs which show movement such as go and come. 
He goes to school.
She returned to the store.
They are coming to the party tonight.




Fill in the gaps in this paragraph with the correct preposition - in, on, at or to.

     Janet was born ______ Rochester ______ December 22nd ______ 3 o'clock ______ the morning. Rochester is ______ the state of New York______ the United States. Now, she goes ______ classes ______ the university. She usually arrives ______ the morning ______ 8 o'clock. ______ weekends, she likes driving ______ her friend's house ______ Canada. Her friend lives ______ Toronto. She usually arrives ______ 9 ______ the evening and leaves ______ Sunday morning. ______ Saturday, they often meet friends ______ a restaurant. ______ night, they sometimes go ______ a disco. ______ summer, ______ July for example, they often go ______ the countryside.