Read the rule, examples and common mistakes in the grammar reference beside practice, then try its three exercise formats.

Prepositions of time and place

Choose the word that shows when, where or how something moves. The examples are text-only and need no picture clues.

You will get ten questions from time, place, transport, position and movement. Read the full phrase before choosing; there is no countdown.

All answers and reasons
The appointment starts ___ 2:30.
at Use at with an exact clock time: at 2:30. Read the guide
Our office is closed ___ Monday.
on Use on with a named day: on Monday. Read the guide
The course begins ___ September.
in Use in with a month: in September. Read the guide
This building opened ___ 1998.
in Use in with a year: in 1998. Read the guide
We met ___ June 4.
on Use on with a calendar date: on June 4. Read the guide
I read for a few minutes ___ night.
at The fixed expression is at night. Read the guide
The package should arrive ___ three days.
in In three days means three days from now. Read the guide
We have lived here ___ 2021.
since Since introduces the starting point of an action that continues: since 2021. Read the guide
I waited ___ twenty minutes.
for For introduces a length of time: for twenty minutes. Read the guide
Please send the form ___ Friday at the latest.
by By Friday means no later than Friday. Read the guide
The spare key is ___ the top drawer.
in The key is inside the drawer, so use in. Read the guide
Your receipt is ___ the desk.
on The receipt touches the desk's surface, so use on. Read the guide
Meet me ___ the main entrance.
at At treats the entrance as a meeting point. Read the guide
Their apartment is ___ the sixth floor.
on Use on with a floor of a building: on the sixth floor. Read the guide
Rina lives ___ a small town near the coast.
in Use in for an area with boundaries, such as a town. Read the guide
I am working ___ home today.
at The fixed expression is at home, with no the. Read the guide
We found two empty seats ___ the train.
on Use on for a train, bus, plane or ship. Read the guide
I left my glasses ___ the taxi.
in Use in for a car or taxi, where passengers sit inside a small vehicle. Read the guide
The cat is sleeping ___ the table, not on it.
under Under means lower than something and often directly below it. Read the guide
The pharmacy is ___ the bank and the bakery.
between Use between for a position with one named place on each side. Read the guide
The cafe is next ___ the library.
to The fixed two-word preposition is next to. Read the guide
Walk ___ the bridge and turn left at the end.
across Across describes movement from one side of a surface to the other. Read the guide
She walked ___ the room and opened a window.
into Into describes movement from outside to inside a space. Read the guide
A small lamp hangs ___ the dining table.
above Above means at a higher position. It does not say the lamp touches the table. Read the guide

Learn the relationship, not a translation

  • For time, start with at for a point, on for a day or date, and in for a longer period.
  • For place, in usually means inside, on means touching a surface, and at treats a place as a point.
  • Some patterns need to be learned together: at home, on the train, in a taxi and next to.
  • A complete sentence makes the intended relationship clear; the activity does not rely on unlicensed pictures.

Keep practising

try mixed grammar , practise articles , or build whole sentences .

Where to go next

More grammar and sentences, then a different skill.

Sentence builder
Fix the mistake
Quantity expressions
Grammar choices
Articles: a, an and the
Irregular verbs
Useful phrases by purpose

See all 54 activities