How do in and on differ for time?

In takes months, years and seasons; on takes a particular day; at takes a clock time.

What is the difference between since and for?

Since marks a starting point such as 2019; for marks a length such as six years.

Primary English Prepositions, Paper 4: Time, Place and Error Correction

2026-10-30

Tutor Prep Guide · Primary English

A mixed set on in, on and at for time and place, since and for, position words and fixed phrases.

Focus　Ask whether the answer is a clock time, a date or a month, then pick the preposition.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10
Suggested time	25
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: Primary English: Prepositions
Level	P4 to P5

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationThe first lesson starts ___ 8:30 a.m.
FoundationMy birthday is ___ 12 May.
FoundationWe will go to Japan ___ December.
FoundationThe cat is sleeping ___ the sofa.
IntermediateI have lived in Hong Kong ___ 2019.
IntermediateShe has studied the piano ___ six years.
IntermediateCorrect the sentence: He is good in Mathematics.
ChallengeThe bank is ___ the post office and the bakery.
ChallengeCorrect the sentence: We arrived to the station at noon.
Error redoRedo the wrong item: I was born ___ 2015 ___ Hong Kong.

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	at	An exact clock time takes at, so at 8:30 a.m. is correct.
2	on	A particular date takes on.
3	in	Months, years and seasons take in.
4	on	Resting on a surface takes on, and a sofa is a surface.
5	since	Since marks the starting point and goes with the present perfect.
6	for	For introduces a length of time such as six years.
7	He is good at Mathematics.	The fixed phrase is good at, never good in.
8	between	Two things on either side take between and and.
9	We arrived at the station at noon.	Arrive takes at for a place and in for a city, never to.
10	in / in	Both the year and the city take in; at Hong Kong is a common mistake.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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