Иерархия At, On, и In

Эти три предлога образуют иерархию от специфического к общему, создавая ментальную основу, применимую как ко времени, так и к пространству. Понимание этой закономерности является ключом к освоению их использования.

Пространственные отношения

AT (point) → ON (surface) → IN (enclosed space)

AT - Specific Points

Exact locations and addresses
at 221B Baker Street, at the corner, at the bus stop
General locations when the exact position isn't important
at school, at work, at home

ON - Surfaces and Lines

Horizontal and vertical surfaces
on the table, on the wall, on the ceiling
Transportation (except cars)
on the bus, on the plane, on the train
Streets and roads
on Main Street, on the highway

IN - Enclosed Spaces

Geographical areas
in France, in Tokyo, in the mountains
Enclosed containers
in the box, in the drawer, in my pocket
Transportation (cars)
in the car, in the taxi

Временные отношения

AT (point) → ON (day) → IN (period)

AT - Precise Times

Clock times
at 3:30, at noon, at midnight
Specific points in daily routines
at breakfast time, at night, at the moment
Holiday periods (when referring to the time itself)
at Christmas (the day itself), at Easter

ON - Specific Days

Days of the week
on Monday, on Fridays
Даты
on June 5th, on the 15th
Special days
on my birthday, on New Year's Day
Day parts with modifiers
on Monday morning, on the afternoon of July 3rd

IN - Longer Periods

Months
in January, in December
Seasons
in summer, in the winter
Years
in 2020, in the 1990s
Века
in the 21st century
General day parts
in the morning, in the evening

Особые случаи и исключения

1. Выражения времени, которые нарушают шаблон

Выражение	Предлог	Примечания
Weekend	at/on	Британский вариант: at the weekend; Американский вариант: on the weekend
Present	at	at present (в настоящее время) (не 'in present')
The weekend	over	over the weekend (на протяжении выходных) (длительность)

2. Выражения места, которые нарушают шаблон

in bed (but on the couch)
in the newspaper (but on TV)
in the picture/photograph
on the island (but in the city)

3. Когда предлоги опускаются

Before last/next/this/every
I saw her last Tuesday (not 'on last Tuesday')
Before today/yesterday/tomorrow
We'll meet tomorrow (not 'on tomorrow')