Fun Ways to Master English Prepositions
Struggling with in, on, and at? You're not alone. German speakers find English prepositions tricky because they work differently. Discover fun and effective strategies to finally master them.
Why Are Prepositions So Tricky for German Speakers?
In German, you might say "Ich bin in der Arbeit" (I am at work) — but wait, in English it's "at" not "in"! That's because prepositions don't translate directly between languages.
The good news? Once you understand the patterns, it becomes much easier. Let's break it down.
The Big Three: In, On, At
These three prepositions cover most situations, but they follow specific patterns:
IN - Think "inside" or "within"
- In a box, room, car, building
- In Munich, Germany, Europe (cities, countries, continents)
- In the morning, in April, in 2024 (times of day, months, years)
ON - Think "surface" or "specific day"
- On the table, floor, wall (surfaces)
- On Monday, on Christmas Day, on my birthday (specific days)
- On the first floor (British English!)
AT - Think "precise point"
- At the bus stop, at the corner, at the office (locations)
- At 9 o'clock, at noon, at night (specific times)
- At the weekend (British) vs On the weekend (American)
German Speaker Tip
Common Mistakes German Speakers Make
Let's look at the most frequent errors and how to fix them:
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct | Why? |
|-------------|-----------|------|
| I am in the work | I am at work | "At" for workplaces |
| On the weekend | At the weekend (UK) | British preference |
| In Monday | On Monday | Specific days use "on" |
| At the morning | In the morning | Parts of day use "in" |
| I'm sitting in the table | I'm sitting at the table | Position relative to table |
The "Transportation" Rule
This one confuses everyone! Here's the pattern:
IN = You're inside a small, private vehicle
- In a car, taxi, helicopter
ON = You're on public transport or large vehicles
- On a bus, train, plane, ship, bicycle
Think of it this way: If you can stand up and walk around inside it, use "on"!
Practice Makes Perfect
Quick Reference Chart
Time Expressions
| Use IN | Use ON | Use AT |
|--------|--------|--------|
| in the morning | on Monday | at 9 AM |
| in April | on 1st April | at noon |
| in 2024 | on my birthday | at night |
| in summer | on the weekend (US) | at the weekend (UK) |
Place Expressions
| Use IN | Use ON | Use AT |
|--------|--------|--------|
| in Munich | on the street | at the corner |
| in Germany | on the 2nd floor | at school |
| in the office | on the bus | at the bus stop |
| in bed | on the table | at work |
Memory Tricks That Work
- The Container Rule: If something is fully enclosed (like a container), use IN
- The Surface Rule: If something is touching a surface, use ON
- The Point Rule: If you're at a specific point or place, use AT
Your Action Plan
- ✅ Practice with the preposition game in your next session
- ✅ Notice prepositions while reading English content
- ✅ When you make a mistake, note it down and look for the pattern
- ✅ Start with the most common combinations and build from there
Remember: Even native English speakers sometimes debate which preposition is "correct"! The goal is communication, not perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Great question! Night is treated as a point in time (at night), while morning/afternoon/evening are periods (in the morning). This is simply a quirk of English that must be memorized.
Yes, sometimes! The most common difference is 'at the weekend' (British) vs 'on the weekend' (American). Both are correct depending on which dialect you're learning.
Focus on learning phrases rather than individual prepositions. Instead of memorizing 'at + work', learn 'I am at work.' Phrases stick better than isolated rules.
Ready to Practice?
Book a session with Emma and practice prepositions in real conversation. Interactive games included!