Prepositions

Prepositions- On, In, At

On, in, at are prepositions which link to another naming words in a sentence. As there is no specific rule to use the preposition in a sentence, there may be confusion in using the prepositions on, in, at.

Here, we shall discuss the uses of prepositions on, in, and at. 

 Prepositions ‘on’, ‘in’, ‘at’ are used to specify-

• time
• place
• device
• state
• activity

Preposition- On

Uses of Preposition ‘on’

 We used Preposition ‘on’ in some sentences below. See these sentences as examples to explain the uses of the preposition ‘on’.

The preposition ‘on’ is used to specify dates and days

• She had come on the 26th of June last year.
• I met her on Tuesday

We use the preposition ‘on’ to specify a surface of something

• Deep always writes on the wooden table.
• Dolly put the vegetables on the kitchen top.

We use the preposition ‘on’ to indicate a part of the body

• She slapped him on his cheek.
• There is a swelling on my toe.

We use the preposition ‘on’ to specify a device or machine

• Sameer has been designing on the computer since the afternoon.
• That serial is aired on TV every night.

We use the preposition ‘on’ to specify the state of something

• She kept her belongings on sale.
• They set the mall on fire.

Preposition- In

Uses of Preposition ‘in’

The preposition ‘in’ is used in sentences given below. Read these sentences as examples to explain the uses of the preposition ‘in’.

We use the preposition ‘in’ to indicate location or place

• Children are playing on the ground.
• He always stays in a five-star hotel.
• Sahil’s hometown is in Maharashtra.
• He looks directly in the eyes of the opponent.

We use the preposition ‘in’ to indicate shape, colour, size-

• The students stand in a line.
• He drew a picture in a circle.
• She likes a design in pink.
• The caricatures are mostly black.
• We can get this table in four different sizes.
• She purchased bowls in six different sizes.

We use the preposition ‘in’  to explain specific time during a day, month, year, season-

• She always starts her work in the morning.
• The third semester will start in June.
• Diwali always falls in the month of November.
• She has completed her training in 2010.
• There is always traffic jam in the rainy season.
• He joined the swimming class in summer.

We use the preposition ‘in’ to explain the feeling, opinion, belief, interest

• He doesn’t believe in curse and blessings.
• I am interested in teaching.

We use the preposition ‘in’ while doing something

• You should be attentive in learning the prepositions.
• In submitting the drawings for final submission, he checked those again and again.

Preposition- At

Uses of Preposition ‘at’

Out of the prepositions on, in, at uses of the preposition ‘at’ is given in the sentences below. Read these sentences as examples to explain the uses of the preposition ‘at’.

We use the preposition ‘at’  to indicate a place

• Anny is at her home.
• Sandy is taking his brother at the party house.

We use the preposition ‘at’ to explain an activity

• She criticized my design.
• He is good at football.

We use the preposition ‘at’ to explain specific time

• She is starting to work at 6 o’clock.
• The meeting was conducted by his boss at 11 am.

We use the preposition ‘at’ to explain an email address

• He sent an image at the client’s email address.
• John emailed me at english@thebestuknow.com.

There are so many prepositions in the English language but on, in, at are the most common. We shall discuss more about prepositions in another chapter-

Definition and list of Prepositions