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EAL · Grammar
English prepositions rarely match Arabic prepositions one-to-one. The "in/on/at" trio for time and place is the most common gap. Learn the rules + memorise the exceptions - there is no shortcut.
Time: AT for clock times + festivals + night ("at 3 pm", "at Christmas", "at night"). ON for days + dates ("on Monday", "on 5 May"). IN for months + years + centuries + parts of the day ("in May", "in 2024", "in the morning", "in the 21st century"). Place: AT for specific points ("at the bus stop", "at the door"). ON for surfaces + streets ("on the table", "on Oxford Street"). IN for enclosed spaces + larger areas ("in the box", "in London", "in Qatar"). Special phrases: "in the morning / afternoon / evening" BUT "at night". "in bed", "at home", "at school", "at work" (no article).
I will meet you at 3 pm on Monday in the cafeteria.
أقابلك الساعة ٣ يوم الإثنين في الكافتيريا.
All three in one sentence - time AT, day ON, place IN.
She was born in 2010 in Doha.
انولدت في ٢٠١٠ في الدوحة.
Year + city → IN.
The exam starts at 9 am on Tuesday.
الامتحان يبدأ الساعة ٩ يوم الثلاثاء.
Clock time AT, day ON.
Macbeth meets the witches on the heath.
Macbeth يقابل الساحرات في الخلاء.
Open outdoor place → ON.
Wrong: I will see you in Monday.
Right: I will see you on Monday.
Days take ON, not IN.
Wrong: She lives at Doha.
Right: She lives in Doha.
Cities take IN.
Wrong: The class starts in 9 o'clock.
Right: The class starts at 9 o'clock.
Clock times take AT.
Wrong: I read the book in last week.
Right: I read the book last week.
"Last week / next year / this morning" take no preposition.
Question 1
Choose the correct preposition.
The play opens ___ Act 1, Scene 1.