These three words are often confused. Here’s a brief explanation of the differences between “who,” “whom,” and “whose”:
1. Who:
“Who” is a subject pronoun used to refer to the subject of a sentence, clause, or phrase.
Example: “Who is that girl?”
2. Whom:
“Whom” is an object pronoun used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition.
Example: “To whom did you lend your book?”
3. Whose:
“Whose” is a possessive pronoun used to indicate ownership or possession.
Example: “Whose coat is this?”
Usage Tips:
When deciding between “who” and “whom,” remember that “who” is used for subjects (the doers of actions) and “whom” is used for objects (the receivers of actions or objects of prepositions).
“Whose” indicates possession, similar to “his,” “her,” “their,” etc.
Examples:
Who is driving the car? (Who is the subject of the sentence)
Whom did you see at the party? (Whom is the object of the verb “see”)
Whose bag is this? (Whose indicates possession)
Understanding these differences will help you choose the correct word in various contexts.
Practice using them in sentences with the QUIZ below!
Understanding prepositions of time can be tricky, but they’re essential for clear and accurate communication. Let’s break down the use of “in,” “on,” and “at” with examples to make them easier to grasp.
1. IN
Use “in” for longer periods of time, such as months, years, centuries, and long periods:
Months:in January, in May
Example: I was born in January.
Years:in 1995, in 2020
Example: We moved to this city in 2020.
Centuries:in the 21st century
Example: Many technological advancements occurred in the 21st century.
Periods of the day:in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
Example: She likes to jog in the morning.
2. ON
Use “on” for specific days and dates:
Days of the week:on Monday, on Friday
Example: Let’s meet on Monday.
Dates:on July 4th, on December 25th
Example: The event is on July 4th.
Specific day + part of day:on Monday morning, on Friday night
Example: We have a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
3. AT
Use “at” for precise times and specific points in the day:
Clock times:at 5:00 PM, at midnight
Example: The movie starts at 7:30 PM.
Specific periods:at noon, at night, at dawn
Example: He works best at night.
Summary Chart
Preposition
Use For
Examples
IN
Months, years, centuries, long periods
in April, in 2021, in the evening
ON
Days, dates
on Tuesday, on March 3rd
AT
Precise times, specific points of day
at 6 PM, at midnight, at noon
Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/prepositions-of-time-in-on-at/
Prepositions of location are essential in English as they help us describe where something or someone is located. Among the most commonly used prepositions are IN, ON, and AT. While they may seem similar, they are used in specific contexts to indicate different types of locations. Let’s explore how to use each one correctly.
1. IN
We use IN when referring to large areas that have clear boundaries. These could include countries, cities, regions, or any space enclosed by limits.
Examples:
Paris is IN France.
New Zealand is IN the South Pacific.
She lives IN New York City.
2. ON
ON is used to indicate contact with a line on a map or a surface. It’s often used for streets, surfaces like tables or floors, and geographical features like rivers or beaches.
Examples:
The book is ON the table.
My office is ON Main Street.
The hotel is ON the beach.
3. AT
AT is used for more precise points or locations. It’s typically used when referring to specific addresses, events, and activities.
Examples:
I can relax AT home.
I was AT the bank.
The concert is AT the arena.
Key Points to Remember:
Use IN for large areas with limits, like countries and cities.
Use ON for surfaces and lines, like streets or tables.
Use AT for specific points or events, like addresses or locations.
Understanding these distinctions will help you use prepositions of location accurately and naturally in your conversations. Practice using IN, ON, and AT with different places and situations to become more confident in your English skills.
An adverb is a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb. It provides additional information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action or quality is performed. Several different types of adverbs are used in English:
Adverbs of manner: Adverbs of manner describe howan action is performed. Examples include “quickly,” “slowly,” “happily,” and “sadly.”
Adverbs of frequency: Adverbs of frequency describe how oftenan action occurs. Examples include “always,” “often,” “sometimes,” and “rarely.”
Adverbs of time: Adverbs of time describe whenan action occurs. Examples include “yesterday,” “today,” “now,” “soon,” and “later.”
Adverbs of place: Adverbs of place describe wherean action occurs. Examples include “here,” “there,” “everywhere,” and “nowhere.”
Adverbs of degree: Adverbs of degree describe the intensity or extent (how much) of an action or event. Examples include “very,” “extremely,” “quite,” and “somewhat.”
Adverbs of affirmation and negation: Adverbs of affirmation indicate agreement or confirmation, such as “certainly,” “indeed,” and “absolutely.” Adverbs of negation indicate negation or denial, such as “not,” “never,” and “no.”
Interrogative adverbs: Interrogative adverbs are used to ask questions about time, place, manner, or reason. Examples include “when,” “where,” “how,” and “why.”
Relative adverbs: Relative adverbs are used to connect two clauses in a sentence and indicate a relationship between them. Examples include “where,” “when,” and “why.”
Conjunctive adverbs: Conjunctive adverbs are used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence. Examples include “however,” “therefore,” and “moreover.”
Beside: “Beside” is a preposition that indicates proximity or location next to something else. It often implies being at the side of or in close proximity to something.
Examples: She sat beside her friend during the movie. The cat slept beside the fireplace.
Besides: “Besides” is an adverb or a preposition that has several meanings: In addition to or apart from. Moreover or furthermore. It is used to add extra information or to introduce additional points.
Examples: Besides English, she speaks French fluently. I don’t have time to go out tonight; besides, I have work to finish. Besides being a talented musician, he’s also a skilled painter.
Remember, “besides” can also function as a preposition, similar to “beside,” but its primary use is as an adverb introducing additional information or points.
To differentiate between the two: Use “beside” when referring to physical proximity or location. Use “besides” when adding information or expressing an additional point.
Some clauses begin with the introductory words THERE or IT rather than with the subject of the sentence. These introductory words are sometimes called expletives. The expletive THERE shows that someone or something exists, usually at a particular time or place. These sentences generally follow the pattern there + verb to be + subject:
There are many skyscrapers in New York City. There was a good movie on television last night.
The expletive IT is used in a number of different situations and patterns:
It is important to be punctual for appointments. (with the verb to be + adjective + infinitive)
It was in 1959 that Alaska became a state. (with the verb to be + adverbial + noun clause)
It takes a long time to learn a language. (with the verb to take + time phrase + infinitive)
It was David who did most of the work. (with the verb to be + noun + relative clause)
The present perfect forms have gone to and have been to are often confused in English. However, there are clear differences between the two forms.
The present perfect forms have gone to and have been to are commonly used to refer to movement to another place. Notice the differences in the examples below.
Has / Have Gone to in Present Perfect Tense
Has / have gone to refers to someone who has gone to a place but has but not yet returned. In other words, someone who has gone to Hawaii is still in Hawaii having a good time.
Here are some examples: He’s gone to the bank. He should be back soon. Where has Tom gone to? They’ve gone to a business conference for the week.
Has / Have Been to in Present Perfect Tense
Has / have been to refers to a place which someone has visited at some time in their life. In other words, has been to refers to an experience that involves travel. The form has / have been to always indicate that the person has returned or is no longer there.
Here are some examples: He’s been to London many times. I’ve been to Disneyland twice. If you need money, ask Tom. He’s been to the bank today.
Been to vs. Gone to Summary
Been to: Refers to visiting a place and returning.
Gone to: Refers to someone traveling to a place and still being there or on their way.
You can include examples for both in a structured table for better clarity.
Phrase
Explanation
Example
Been to
Visited a place and returned.
“I’ve been to Paris twice.”
Gone to
Traveled to a place and is still there or hasn’t returned.
“She has gone to the store.”
Other Similar Expressions
1. Been in
Definition:
Refers to someone being physically present in a place for a period of time, often emphasizing duration.
Examples:
“She has been in London for three months.” (She is still in London now.)
“I have been in this class since 9 a.m.” (I have not left the class yet.)
Common Usage Tip: Use been in to focus on time spent in a place or an ongoing stay.
Compare with:
“She has been to London three times.” (Emphasizes past visits, not ongoing presence.)
2. Been away
Definition:
Refers to someone being absent from a usual or expected location, often indicating time spent elsewhere.
Examples:
“I’ve been away for a week.” (I went somewhere else and just came back.)
“He has been away on business.” (He is currently not here because of work.)
Common Usage Tip: Use been away when referring to someone’s absence from their usual location or home.
3. Gone for
Definition:
Indicates someone has left a location for a specific purpose or duration.
Examples:
“She has gone for a walk.” (She is not back yet; she’s currently out walking.)
“They have gone for lunch.” (They are eating lunch somewhere now.)
Common Usage Tip: Use gone for to highlight the purpose of the absence or action.
4. Been there
Definition:
Refers to having personal experience with a situation or place, often informally.
Examples:
“I’ve been there before—it’s a lovely restaurant.”
“Oh, I’ve been there! It’s tough to lose your wallet.” (Refers to an emotional or relatable experience.)
“Been there, done that” (I’ve already gone through this, so I know how it goes.)
Common Usage Tip: This phrase can be literal (place) or metaphorical (situation).
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with “been in,” “been away,” “gone for,” or “been there”:
I’ve ______ Paris for a year, and I love it here.
She has ______ a walk to the park; she’ll be back soon.
I’ve ______ on vacation, so I didn’t see your message.
He has ______ before — it’s hard when you lose your first job.
A lot of my students ask me for tips on ways they can improve their English outside the classroom.
Here are a few that Ilike to pass along.
Listen to songs in English and try to identify and understand the words and the meaning.
Watch TV series, movies and the news. Use English subtitles if you need.
Watch TED Talks or other lectures on YouTube. You can control the speed if the speaker is talking too fast.
Record yourself and listen to it. This is great if you are recording something and have the original source audio – then you can compare yours with the original.
Exchange text messages with other students and friends. This is a great way to help each other.
Change the operating system of your phone, TV, Cable TV, PC, laptop to English. This will help you a lot.
Read as much as you can in English – books, magazines, newspapers, etc.
Keep a notebook with you to write down any new words or things you don’t understand.
If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.
Both “in spite of” and “despite” mean that something happens even though there is something that might prevent it. They are used to express a contrast between two ideas.
Structure
Despite
“Despite” is always followed directly by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (the -ing form of a verb).
Example:
Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
Despite her illness, she completed the marathon.
Despite studying hard, he didn’t pass the exam.
In Spite Of
“In spite of” is also followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund, but it is a phrase with three words.
Example:
In spite of the rain, we went for a walk.
In spite of her illness, she completed the marathon.
In spite of studying hard, he didn’t pass the exam.
Key Points to Remember
Length: “Despite” is shorter (one word) compared to “in spite of” (three words).
Formality: Both can be used in formal and informal contexts, but “despite” may sound slightly more formal or concise in some cases.
No ‘of’ after Despite: Never use “of” after “despite.” It’s always just “despite.”
Correct: Despite the cold weather.
Incorrect: Despite of the cold weather.
Same meaning: Both expressions convey the same meaning and are interchangeable in most contexts.
Examples with Explanations
Despite
Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
(We arrived on time even though there was heavy traffic.)
Despite being tired, she finished her homework.
(She finished her homework even though she was tired.)
In Spite Of
In spite of the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
(We arrived on time even though there was heavy traffic.)
In spite of being tired, she finished her homework.
(She finished her homework even though she was tired.)
Practice Exercise
Ask your students to rewrite sentences using “in spite of” and “despite”:
It was raining. We went out.
Despite the rain, we went out.
In spite of the rain, we went out.
He was ill. He went to work.
Despite his illness, he went to work.
In spite of his illness, he went to work.
Visual Aid
Create a simple chart or visual aid to illustrate the structure differences:
Expression
Example
Structure
Despite
Despite the rain, we went outside.
Despite + noun/gerund
In Spite Of
In spite of the rain, we went out.
In spite of + noun/gerund
This visual aid can help students quickly grasp the differences in structure and usage.
Conclusion
By practicing these structures and understanding that “despite” and “in spite of” are interchangeable with slight differences in form, your students should be able to use both expressions correctly and confidently.
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