Prepositions of Time & Place (In, On, At) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are giving advice to your younger cousin about how to search for internship opportunities online. Choose the correct preposition of time or place (A, B, or C) to complete your advice naturally.
1 There are thousands of amazing internship opportunities listed ______ the internet today.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
2 If you are serious about your career, you must create a professional profile ______ LinkedIn.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
3 Most large tech companies begin their summer recruitment programs ______ March.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
4 I found a very useful list of marketing internships ______ the university’s career website.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
5 Whenever you apply for a job, try to submit your application ______ Monday morning so it stays at the top of their inbox.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
6 Set your alarm clock so you can log in to the virtual job fair exactly ______ 9:00 AM.
(A) at
(B) on
(C) in
7 You can also easily search for part-time gigs ______ that new mobile app I showed you yesterday.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
8 When you finally get a video interview, make sure you are sitting ______ a quiet room with good lighting.
(A) at
(B) on
(C) in
9 To protect your eyes, don’t spend more than four hours straight staring at text ______ your computer screen.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
10 I will send you a great template for your cover letter ______ an email later this afternoon.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
11 It is highly unprofessional to send job applications to managers late ______ night.
(A) at
(B) on
(C) in
12 You should put your most important technical skills right ______ the top of your resume.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
13 HR managers rarely reply to corporate messages ______ the weekend, so be patient.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
14 For an internship application, all your experience should fit perfectly ______ one single page.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
15 If they invite you for an in-person interview, arrive ______ the reception desk 10 minutes early.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
16 I noticed that the company’s main headquarters is located ______ 250 Business Avenue.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
17 However, their creative department is located just down the street ______ Technology Boulevard.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
18 You need to hurry because the application portal will officially close ______ the end of the month.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
19 I saved a really helpful list of interview questions ______ a digital folder on my desktop.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) at
20 Remember, when you have an interview ______ Zoom or Skype, you still need to dress professionally!
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) on
Explanation: The internet is considered a vast virtual surface. We always use “on” for digital networks (e.g., on the internet, on the web).
2 (C) on
Explanation: For all social media platforms and websites, we use “on” (e.g., on LinkedIn, on Facebook, on Instagram). (B) “in” is a common mistake for non-native speakers.
3 (B) in
Explanation: We use “in” for months, years, and seasons (e.g., in March, in 2024, in the summer).
4 (A) on
Explanation: Similar to social media, a specific website is a digital surface. You find information “on a website”.
5 (B) on
Explanation: Normally we say “in the morning.” However, if a specific day is attached (e.g., Monday morning), the specific day overrides the rule, and we MUST use “on”.
6 (A) at
Explanation: We always use “at” for exact clock times (e.g., at 9:00 AM, at noon).
7 (C) on
Explanation: A mobile app is a digital platform displayed on a screen, so we use “on” (e.g., on an app, on TikTok).
8 (C) in
Explanation: A room is an enclosed, 3-dimensional physical space. Therefore, you sit “in a room”.
9 (C) on
Explanation: A screen (whether on a phone, TV, or laptop) is a flat surface. You read text “on a screen”.
10 (A) in
Explanation: While we read things on a screen, an email or a digital file is considered a “container” of information. Therefore, we send or find things “in an email” or “in a document”.
11 (A) at
Explanation: “At night” is a fixed exception in English grammar. We use “in” for the morning, afternoon, and evening, but we must use “at” for night.
12 (C) at
Explanation: We use “at” to designate specific, exact coordinates on a page (e.g., at the top, at the bottom).
13 (C) at
Explanation: In British English (which sets the standard for many CEFR exams), we say “at the weekend”. (Note: “On the weekend” is used in American English and is also widely understood, but “at” is heavily tested in B1 Cambridge exams).
14 (C) on
Explanation: We use “on” when referring to the flat surface of a page (e.g., on page one, on a single page).
15 (B) at
Explanation: A reception desk is a specific meeting point or service hub. You wait or arrive “at the desk”.
16 (C) at
Explanation: When you provide an exact address with a specific building number, you must use “at” (e.g., at 250 Business Avenue).
17 (C) on
Explanation: When you name a street, road, or avenue without a specific building number, you view it as a line or surface and use “on” (e.g., on Technology Boulevard).
18 (A) at
Explanation: The phrase “at the end of [something]” refers to a specific point in time when an event or period finishes (e.g., at the end of the month, at the end of the day).
19 (B) in
Explanation: Just like an email, a computer folder is a digital container holding files. You save things “in a folder”.
20 (C) on
Explanation: Zoom, Skype, and Teams are digital communication platforms. Just like social media and the internet, you meet “on Zoom” or talk “on the phone”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 The Digital Space Rule (Virtual Surfaces vs. Containers):
- Use ON (The Surface/Platform): In English, the internet and screens are treated as flat surfaces. Use “on” for the internet, websites, social media platforms, apps, screens, and video call software.
- Examples: on the internet, on a website, on LinkedIn, on a screen, on an app, on Zoom.
- Use IN (The Container): Once you open a specific digital file, it becomes a container of information.
- Examples: in an email, in a PDF, in a folder, in a document.
2 The Address Rule (Street vs. Exact Location):
- ON: Used for the name of the street alone. (The office is on Main Street.)
- AT: Used when the exact building number is provided. (The office is at 123 Main Street.)
3 The “Morning” Exception:
- Broad time of day: in the morning.
- Specific day + time of day: on Monday morning. (The specific day always dictates the preposition).