IN, AT, ON?

Students live in a constant battle against prepositions. What about we make sure they win?

I usually go with a tip that I learned some years ago. Three words that can make all the difference:

LOCATION
CONTACT
INSIDE

AT for LOCATION:

We use at when we are talking about locations. Most times places with a name.

I'm at the mall. [Diamond Mall, BH Shopping Center, etc]

I'm at school. [Black Star School, Rose School, etc]

I'm at the club. [CEU Club, Summer Club, etc]


ON for CONTACT:

We use on when we are talking about contact.

I'm sitting on a chair. [physical contact: my butt and the chair]

I'm standing on a bridge. [physical contact: my feet and the bridge]

The picture is hanging on the wall. [physical contact: the picture and the wall]


IN for INSIDE:

We use in when we are talking about being inside a place with limits.

I live in Brazil. [Brazil has limits. I'm inside these limits]

I am playing the guitar in my bedroom. [I am inside a room with four walls - limits]

I've got this song playing in my head. [Inside my head, which has limits]


Ok, this simplifies in, on and at when are talking about places. But what about the other situations?


Let's think about TIME.

- My birthday is in June.

June is a month with 30 days. Therefore, it has a beginning and an end, which means limits.

- My English classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Monday is a day, written on a calendar. Contact.

- I'll meet you at seven.

Ok, that's a tricky one! But if the hand of the clock is pointing at 7, this is its location!

Feel like practicing it? Why don't you do it HERE and HERE?

Let me know if this helps!

J.