on + day/dateUse on before days and calendar dates.
Time Expressions
A1Time expressions show when something happens: routine, now, past, future, day, date, or exact time. Use every, now, yesterday, tomorrow, ago, last, next, in, on, and at carefully.
What you'll learn
- Use every for repeated time: every day, every week.
- Recognize yesterday, last, and ago as past-time signals.
- Recognize tomorrow, next, and in as future-time signals.
- Use on with days and dates.
- Use at with exact clock times.
- Use in with months, years, and longer periods.
Structure
at + clock timeUse at before exact times and time points.
in + month/year/part of dayUse in before longer periods and parts of the day.
Build a sentence
Meaning
Marker
onMonday
The class meets on Monday.
Use on with days and dates.
When to use
Routines
Use every with repeated actions and schedules: every day, every Friday, every morning.
This moment
Use now for the moment of speaking or the current situation. Anna is busy now.
Past time
Use yesterday, last, and ago to place an action before now: yesterday morning, last month, two days ago.
Future time
Use tomorrow, next, and in to point forward from now: tomorrow evening, next week, in ten minutes.
Markers
every daynowyesterdaytomorrowtwo days agolast weeknext monthin ten minuteson Mondayat 7:30
Common mistakes
Wrong
The meeting is in Monday.
Correct
The meeting is on Monday.
Use on before days of the week and dates.
Wrong
Maria gets up on 6:30.
Correct
Maria gets up at 6:30.
Use at before exact clock times.
Wrong
Tom moved on 2021.
Correct
Tom moved in 2021.
Use in before years, months, seasons, and other longer periods.
Wrong
Lisa arrived ago Monday.
Correct
Lisa arrived on Monday.
Ago goes after a length of time, not before a day or date.
Wrong
The train leaves after ten minutes.
Correct
The train leaves in ten minutes.
Use in to show how much time from now until a future event.
Common misconceptions
❝ I can use in for any time expression if the meaning is clear. ❞
English fixes different time expressions with different words: on Monday, at 6:00, in July. The meaning alone is not enough.
❝ Ago can go before a day or date. ❞
Ago comes after a length of time: two days ago, a week ago. With days and dates, use on.
Skills in this rule (8)
EVERY_FOR_REGULAR_TIMEw5Use every with repeated time periods
Use every with units like day, week, or morning to show a routine or repeated schedule. It points to something that happens again and again.
NOW_FOR_THIS_MOMENTw4Use now for this moment
Use now to point to the moment of speaking or the current situation. It answers the question what is happening at this moment.
YESTERDAY_LAST_AGO_FOR_PASTw5Use yesterday, last, and ago for past time
Use yesterday for the day before today, last with past periods like last week, and ago after a length of time. These markers place the action before now.
TOMORROW_NEXT_IN_FOR_FUTUREw5Use tomorrow, next, and in for future time
Use tomorrow for the day after today, next with coming periods like next week, and in before a future length of time such as in two hours. These markers point forward from now.
ON_FOR_DAYS_AND_DATESw5Use on with days and dates
Use on before days of the week and calendar dates. It helps place an event on a specific day.
AT_FOR_CLOCK_TIMESw5Use at with clock times
Use at before exact clock times and points like noon or midnight. It answers exactly when something happens.
IN_FOR_MONTHS_YEARS_AND_LONGERw5Use in with months, years, and longer periods
Use in before months, years, seasons, and parts of the day like in the morning. It places something inside a longer time period.
PICK_THE_RIGHT_TIME_MARKERw5Choose the time marker that matches the meaning
Pick the word that matches routine, this moment, past time, future time, a day, a clock time, or a longer period. Use the time clue in the sentence to guide the choice.