Grammar Focus
Prepositions of Time: AT – ON – IN
Prepositions of time (χρονικές προθέσεις) help us say when something happens. The three most common ones are at, on and in.
at 7 o’clockon Mondayin May
1. AT (σε / στις για συγκεκριμένη ώρα)
📘 Theory (Θεωρία)
We use at for exact times and some fixed time expressions.
- Clock time (ώρα): at 8 o’clock, at 7:30
- Meal times / moments: at breakfast, at lunchtime, at night
- Fixed phrases: at the weekend (British English), at Christmas
✅ Examples (Παραδείγματα)
- School starts at 8:15. → Το σχολείο αρχίζει στις 8:15.
- I go to bed at night. → Πηγαίνω για ύπνο τη νύχτα.
- We have lunch at lunchtime. → Τρώμε μεσημεριανό την ώρα του μεσημεριανού.
📝 Practice – AT
Complete with at:
- I wake up ___ 7 o’clock.
- We eat dinner ___ night.
- The lesson starts ___ 9:30.
2. ON (σε / την για ημέρες και ημερομηνίες)
📘 Theory (Θεωρία)
We use on for days, dates and special days.
- Days (ημέρες): on Monday, on Friday
- Dates (ημερομηνίες): on 5th May, on 12 June
- Special days: on my birthday, on Christmas Day
✅ Examples (Παραδείγματα)
- We have English on Tuesday. → Έχουμε Αγγλικά την Τρίτη.
- My birthday is on 10th March. → Τα γενέθλιά μου είναι στις 10 Μαρτίου.
- I visit my grandparents on Sunday. → Επισκέπτομαι τους παππούδες μου την Κυριακή.
📝 Practice – ON
Complete with on:
- My party is ___ Saturday.
- Christmas Day is ___ 25th December.
- We play football ___ Fridays.
3. IN (σε / μέσα σε για μήνες, εποχές, χρόνια)
📘 Theory (Θεωρία)
We use in for longer periods of time: months, seasons, years and parts of the day.
- Months (μήνες): in May, in December
- Seasons (εποχές): in summer, in winter
- Years (χρόνια): in 2026
- Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
✅ Examples (Παραδείγματα)
- It is hot in summer. → Κάνει ζέστη το καλοκαίρι.
- My birthday is in April. → Τα γενέθλιά μου είναι τον Απρίλιο.
- I do my homework in the afternoon. → Κάνω την εργασία μου το απόγευμα.
Careful: we say in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, but at night.
📝 Practice – IN
Complete with in:
- We go swimming ___ summer.
- My birthday is ___ October.
- I brush my teeth ___ the morning.
4. AT – ON – IN: Quick Comparison
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| AT | exact time | at 6 o’clock, at night |
| ON | days / dates | on Monday, on 3rd July |
| IN | months / seasons / years / parts of day | in May, in winter, in 2026, in the morning |
Mini Examples
- I wake up at 7 o’clock.
- We have English on Wednesday.
- It rains a lot in winter.
📝 Mini Quiz
Choose at / on / in:
- ___ Monday
- ___ 8 o’clock
- ___ the morning
- ___ July
- ___ my birthday
- ___ night
✅ Show answers
AT
- at
- at
- at
ON
- on
- on
- on
IN
- in
- in
- in
Mini Quiz
- on Monday
- at 8 o’clock
- in the morning
- in July
- on my birthday
- at night
