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Learn how to use IN, ON and AT with simple explanations, printable worksheets, classroom posters and a free video lesson.
Do your students sometimes get confused about when to use IN, ON, and AT? These three little words can be tricky for English learners, especially beginners.
Whether you are teaching English in the classroom or learning at home, a combination of clear explanations, visual examples, and practice activities can make learning prepositions of time much easier.
In this post, you'll find a simple way to introduce and practise IN, ON, and AT, along with printable posters, worksheets, and a video lesson with an interactive listening exercise.
Understanding IN, ON, and AT
The easiest way to teach prepositions of time is to start with a few basic rules and familiar examples.
IN – longer periods of time
We use IN with:
Months: in January, in June
Seasons: in summer, in winter
Years: in 2026, in 1999
Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
ON – days and dates
We use ON with:
Days of the week: on Monday, on Friday
Dates: on 1st November
Special days: on my birthday, on Christmas Day
AT – specific times
We use AT with:
Clock times: at 7 o'clock, at 5:30
Mealtimes: at breakfast, at lunchtime
Certain expressions: at night, at midnight, at noon
Remember: IN is for longer periods, ON is for days and dates, and AT is for specific times.
Learn and Practise with a Video Lesson
Sometimes students need to hear examples before they feel confident using a grammar rule themselves.
In this video lesson, students can:
Learn when to use IN, ON, and AT.
Listen to clear explanations and examples.
Practise identifying the correct preposition.
Check their understanding through a listening activity.
At the end of the video, there is a short practice exercise. I read sentences with the preposition missing, give students a moment to think and choose their answer, and then reveal the correct answer.
This makes the video useful not only for classroom teaching but also for independent learning at home.
Watch the video here:
Printable IN, ON, AT Posters and Worksheets
Visual materials can make grammar rules easier to remember. The posters provide a simple reference that students can look at while completing exercises or writing their own sentences.
The worksheets offer an opportunity to practise using IN, ON, and AT in context and reinforce what students have learned.
You can use these resources in several ways:
In the classroom: Introduce the rules using the posters, then let students complete the worksheets individually or in pairs.
For revision: Use the materials to review prepositions of time after the lesson.
For independent learning: Students can watch the video, pause to answer the questions, and complete the worksheets at their own pace.
For homework: Assign selected exercises for extra practice.
Get the printable resources on Teachers Pay Teachers:
A Simple Way to Make Grammar Practice More Engaging
Learning grammar doesn't have to mean memorising long lists of rules. Short explanations, visual reminders, listening practice, and printable activities can help students understand how English works and become more confident using it.
I hope these resources make teaching and learning prepositions of time a little easier!
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