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Prepositions — "In", "On", "At" (Time & Place)
10 min
A2
Free
Why prepositions are chaos
French often uses one preposition where English uses three. En janvier, en France, en voiture — all "en." English? In January, in France, by car. There's no single rule, but there ARE patterns.
Time prepositions
IN → months, years, seasons, parts of day
"In January" / "In 2024" / "In summer" / "In the morning" — think: large time containers.
"In January" / "In 2024" / "In summer" / "In the morning" — think: large time containers.
ON → days, dates, specific days
"On Monday" / "On March 15th" / "On my birthday" — think: specific days you can point to on a calendar.
"On Monday" / "On March 15th" / "On my birthday" — think: specific days you can point to on a calendar.
AT → exact times, mealtimes, special periods
"At 3pm" / "At lunchtime" / "At Christmas" / "At night" — think: precise points or established moments.
"At 3pm" / "At lunchtime" / "At Christmas" / "At night" — think: precise points or established moments.
Place prepositions
IN → countries, cities, enclosed spaces
"In France" / "In Lyon" / "In the office" / "In a meeting" — think: inside something.
"In France" / "In Lyon" / "In the office" / "In a meeting" — think: inside something.
ON → surfaces, streets, floors, transport (large)
"On the table" / "On Baker Street" / "On the 3rd floor" / "On the bus" — think: on a surface or line.
"On the table" / "On Baker Street" / "On the 3rd floor" / "On the bus" — think: on a surface or line.
AT → specific locations, addresses, events
"At the office" / "At 42 Baker Street" / "At the conference" / "At home" — think: a point on a map.
"At the office" / "At 42 Baker Street" / "At the conference" / "At home" — think: a point on a map.
The in/at office trap
Both are correct but different: "in the office" = physically inside the building. "At the office" = at work (could be in any room). "I left my phone in the office" (a specific room). "I'm at the office until 6" (at work generally).
Common mistakes
"I arrive in Monday" → "I arrive on Monday." Days = on."We met in Christmas" → "We met at Christmas." Holidays = at."I live in Baker Street" → "I live on Baker Street." Streets = on."I'm at the meeting" vs "I'm in the meeting" — both work but "in" emphasises you're currently inside it.