Cómo usarlas correctamente con tiempo y lugar (con ejemplos y ejercicios)

Las preposiciones in, on y at suelen traducirse como “en” en español, pero en inglés no se usan de la misma forma.
Elegir la preposición incorrecta es uno de los errores más frecuentes en speaking, writing y exámenes.

En esta guía aprenderás:
👉 Cuándo usar in, on y at
👉 Cómo usarlas para lugar y tiempo
👉 Combinaciones típicas que debes memorizar
👉 Ejemplos claros
👉 50 ejercicios con respuestas

Diferencia general entre IN, ON y AT

👉 IN → áreas grandes o periodos largos
👉 ON → superficies, líneas o días concretos
👉 AT → puntos exactos o momentos específicos

Piensa así:

• IN = dentro de algo grande

• ON = sobre algo

• AT = en un punto exacto

Uso de IN, ON y AT para LUGAR

IN – dentro de un espacio

Se usa con:

• Habitaciones y espacios cerrados

• Ciudades y países

• Regiones y áreas grandes

Ejemplos con IN

• She is in the kitchen.

• He lives in Madrid.

• They work in Spain.

• The keys are in my bag.

• There’s a cat in the house.

👉 Estás dentro del lugar.

ON – sobre una superficie o línea

Se usa con:

• Superficies

• Calles y carreteras

• Pisos (floor)

• Transporte público grande

Ejemplos con ON

• The phone is on the table.

• They live on Oxford Street.

• My office is on the second floor.

• She’s on the bus.

• There’s a picture on the wall.

👉 Algo está sobre una superficie o línea.

AT – punto concreto

Se usa con:

• Lugares específicos

• Direcciones exactas

• Sitios habituales

Ejemplos con AT

• I’m waiting at the bus stop.

• We met at the library.

• She’s at home.

• He’s at work.

• I’ll see you at the entrance.

👉 Es un punto exacto, no un área grande.

Uso de IN, ON y AT para TIEMPO

IN – periodos largos

Se usa con:

• Meses

• Años

• Estaciones

• Décadas

• Partes del día (excepto night)

Ejemplos con IN

• My birthday is in July.

• She was born in 1995.

• We travel in summer.

• I study in the morning.

• He usually works in the afternoon.

ON – días y fechas

Se usa con:

• Días de la semana

• Fechas completas

• Días especiales con “Day”

Ejemplos con ON

• I work on Mondays.

• Her exam is on Friday.

• His birthday is on May 5th.

• We met on Christmas Day.

AT – horas y momentos exactos

Se usa con:

• Horas

• Momentos concretos del día

• Festividades en general

Ejemplos con AT

• See you at 8 p.m.

• I wake up at 7.

• She studies at night.

• We have lunch at noon.

• I’m very busy at Christmas.

Combinaciones importantes

👉 IN the morning / afternoon / evening
👉 AT night / noon / midnight
👉 ON Christmas Day
👉 AT Christmas

Ejemplos:

• I work in the morning.

• I sleep at night.

• We meet on Christmas Day.

• I’m stressed at Christmas.

Errores comunes

🚫 I live at Madrid
✅ I live in Madrid

🚫 I work in Mondays
✅ I work on Mondays

🚫 See you in 9 p.m.
✅ See you at 9 p.m.

🚫 I sleep in night
✅ I sleep at night

50 ejercicios: IN, ON o AT

👉 Completa las frases con in, on o at.

1. She lives ___ London.

2. I work ___ Mondays.

3. The keys are ___ the table.

4. We met ___ the airport.

5. My birthday is ___ August.

6. He studies ___ the morning.

7. The shop is ___ the corner.

8. I usually wake up ___ 7 a.m.

9. They live ___ Baker Street.

10. She was born ___ 2001.

11. The cat is ___ the box.

12. I’ll see you ___ night.

13. He works ___ an office.

14. We arrived ___ the station early.

15. The exam is ___ Friday.

16. She’s ___ home today.

17. There’s a picture ___ the wall.

18. I don’t work ___ weekends.

19. We met ___ Christmas Day.

20. He sleeps ___ the afternoon.

21. The meeting is ___ 10 a.m.

22. I live ___ a small town.

23. She left her bag ___ the bus.

24. I was born ___ March.

25. They’re waiting ___ the door.

26. I study English ___ the evening.

27. The restaurant is ___ Main Street.

28. We usually travel ___ summer.

29. He arrived ___ night.

30. She works ___ a hospital.

31. I’ll call you ___ the morning.

32. The shoes are ___ the floor.

33. We met ___ the party.

34. He was ___ school yesterday.

35. The concert is ___ Saturday.

36. I’m very busy ___ Christmas.

37. She lives ___ Spain.

38. The train arrives ___ noon.

39. There’s a sticker ___ the door.

40. We met ___ university.

41. I usually relax ___ weekends.

42. He arrived ___ the afternoon.

43. The children are ___ the garden.

44. I start work ___ 9 a.m.

45. She lives ___ the third floor.

46. We met ___ a café.

47. I study ___ night sometimes.

48. The book is ___ my backpack.

49. He was born ___ winter.

50. The bus stops ___ the corner.

Respuestas

1. in

2. on

3. on

4. at

5. in

6. in

7. at

8. at

9. on

10. in

11. in

12. at

13. in

14. at

15. on

16. at

17. on

18. on

19. on

20. in

21. at

22. in

23. on

24. in

25. at

26. in

27. on

28. in

29. at

30. in

31. in

32. on

33. at

34. at

35. on

36. at

37. in

38. at

39. on

40. at

41. on

42. in

43. in

44. at

45. on

46. at

47. at

48. in

49. in

50. at

Resumen final

👉 IN → espacios grandes y periodos largos
👉 ON → superficies y días
👉 AT → puntos exactos y horas

Dominar in, on y at es básico para hablar con naturalidad y evitar errores típicos de examen.