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Prepositions

in / on / at — the three most common English prepositions for time and place. Hindi uses its equivalents fairly flexibly, but English has a fixed rule for every situation.

The rule

Time — IN for months/years/long periods, ON for days/dates, AT for clock times. Place — IN for enclosed spaces (in a room, in Mumbai), ON for surfaces (on the table, on Floor 3), AT for points (at the gate, at home).

Explained

Prepositions are small but they're where most Hindi-speaker mistakes happen. The trick is to remember the size: IN for the biggest chunks (years, months, cities, countries, rooms), ON for medium things (days, dates, surfaces, floors), AT for the smallest, most specific points (clock times, gates, addresses). After this lesson, you will pick the right one automatically.

Examples

EnglishIn Hindi
I was born in June.मेरा जन्म जून में हुआ था।
My birthday is on Monday this year.इस साल मेरा जन्मदिन सोमवार को है।
The meeting starts at 3 pm sharp.मीटिंग ठीक तीन बजे शुरू होती है।
She lives in Bengaluru.वह बेंगलुरु में रहती है।
Your file is on the table.तुम्हारी फ़ाइल मेज़ पर है।
Wait for me at the gate.गेट पर मेरा इंतज़ार करना।
We met at the wedding in December.हम दिसंबर में शादी में मिले थे।
There's a temple on every street in Varanasi.वाराणसी की हर गली में एक मंदिर है।
I'll see you at 6 on Friday.शुक्रवार को छह बजे मिलते हैं।
She is at home and her kids are in the garden.वह घर पर है और उसके बच्चे बगीचे में हैं।

Common mistakes

I will discuss about it tomorrow.

I will discuss it tomorrow.

'About' never follows 'discuss' — the verb takes its object directly. Say 'discuss it', not 'discuss about it'.

She is married with a doctor.

She is married to a doctor.

Use 'married to', not 'married with' — 'to' is the correct preposition here.

I'll meet you in Monday.

I'll meet you on Monday.

Always use 'on' with days of the week. 'In' is reserved for months and years.

He is good in maths.

He is good at maths.

For a skill or ability, say 'good AT', not 'good in' — e.g. 'good at maths'.

Listen me carefully.

Listen to me carefully.

The verb 'listen' always needs 'to' before its object — say 'listen to me', not 'listen me'.

Practise

1. I'll see you ___ Saturday.

  1. in
  2. on
  3. at
  4. by
Show the answer

on

2. She is good ___ singing.

  1. in
  2. at
  3. on
  4. with
Show the answer

at

3. The bag is ___ the table.

  1. at
  2. on
  3. in
  4. to
Show the answer

on

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