Hello buddies, hoy os traemos algunos de los usos más frecuentes de las preposiciones AT, IN, ON.

Si, si, con éstas nos liamos bastante tanto si las usamos como preposiciones de tiempo o de lugar/posición. A ver si hoy arrojamos un poquito de luz y con este post os aclaramos los usos más importantes.

Vamos por partes:

AT, IN, ON prepositions of time

We use IN for periods of time, months, years, seasons, decades, morning, afternoon, evening.
For example: in six months, in the nineties (90’s), in a moment, in two days, in ten minutes, in the summer, in 2018, in the morning, in February…

We use ON for days and date, the weekend (US)
For example: on July 20th, on Saturday, on the weekend (US), onTuesday morning, on my birthday, on New Year’s day, on Christmas’ Eve…

We use AT for precise times, festivals, holiday periods, the weekend (UK) and night.
For example: at Christmas, at night, at the weekend(UK), at 10 o’clock, at Easter, at lunchtime…

We don’t need to use these preposition with some time expressions
For example: next week, tomorrow, this afternoon, yesterday, today, last winter…

AT, IN, ON prepositions of place

At a point, in an area, on a surface.

We can use at to mean «a reference or meeting point» or in to mean «inside».
For example:
She’s usually at the office in the mornings.
We’ll have a meeting in the conference room.
We can say we are at the office or in the office.

At is mainly used with

-Public places, buildings: at the airport, at the bus stop, at the office, at the shopping centre, at the hospital, at the hotel, at the doctor’s, at the hairdressers’…
-Events: at a concert, at a party, at a meeting, at a wedding, at a dinner…

We also say that someone is: at home, at work, at school, at university.

In is mainly used with

-Cities, towns, countries (and other large areas): in Europe, in Paris, in the Pacific Ocean, in the Mediterranean, in the Sahara…
-Outside areas: in the garden, in the park, in the pool, in the street…
-Rooms: in the kitchen, in the bedroom…

We say that someone is in hospital / in prison if they are there as patients / prisoners.
We can say we are at the hospital visiting someone.

Esperamos que a partir de ahora os resulte un poco menos confuso utilizar estas preposiciones taaaan comunes. 😉

La diferencia entre to y for en inglés es algo que nos suele costar bastante, porque para nosotros es confuso saber cuándo “para” es con “to” y cuándo con “for” en inglés.

Este es el error más común que cometemos al usar to y for

 We need to leave now for to arrive on time.
 We need to leave now to arrive on time.

 I’m saving money for to travel around the world.
 I’m saving money to travel around the world.

 These trainers are for to running.
 These trainers are for running.

 This money is for to buying a new car.
 This money is for buying a new car.

Normalmente o bien usamos to o bien usamos for, usar los dos juntos no es correcto. Para saber cuál es diferencia entre to y for en inglés, lo más fácil es pensar por un momento si nos referimos a la finalidad o para qué sirve algo o si queremos indicar el motivo por el que hacemos algo.

For > finalidad – para qué sirve algo

Lo más normal en este caso, es que usemos for + sustantivo o bien for + verbo en gerundio (-ing). Vamos a ver unos ejemplos de uso para cada uno.

for + noun

Doing exercise is good for your health.
I bought a suit for my new job.
This book is for dummies.
That red sofa is for our living room.

for + verb -ing

These trainers are for running.
A ladle is a big spoon used for serving soup.
This money is for buying a new car.
Traveling is great for meeting new people.
Watching tv in English is good for improving your listening skills.

To > motivo, razón – por qué hacemos algo

Es bastante frecuente que la construcción sea to + verbo. De hecho, un buen truco para saber si efectivamente tiene más sentido con to, es probar añadiendo la expresión in order to. Aunque esta expresión se usa también para hablar de finalidad, es una buena forma de probar y ver si funciona. Otra manera es sustituir o añadir because (con algunos ajustes en la frase) que es la palabra que usamos para dar una razón. Observa los siguientes ejemplos

We need to leave now (in order) to arrive on time. (because we want to arrive on time)
I’m saving money (in order) to travel around the world. (because I want to travel)
She came here (in order) to see you. (because she wants to see you)
I go to the gym (in order) to keep fit. (because I want to keep fit)

Básicamente así sabremos cuál es la diferencia entre to y for en inglés, tendremos que distinguir si nos referimos a la finalidad (para qué) o al motivo (por qué). Hay otros usos de to y for pero quizá no sean tan confusos.

Otros usos de to & for

For

I made a cake for her.
This phone call is for you.
I bought this toy for my dog.
Can you open the door for me please?
I was waiting for her at the restaurant.

We’ve lived here for 5 years. (period of time)
I have worked with them for 2 years. (period of time)
Are you for or against renewable energy? (agree with)
I was in London for a conference. (reason)
Let’s go out for a drink. (reason)

To

They went to Paris last year. (destination)
She’s going to Cambridge with her class. (destination)
What is the next train to the city centre? (destination)
I prefer series to films. (comparing)
We prefer running to swimming. (comparing)
It’s ten to seven. (telling the time)
From here to the office I must walk 20 minutes. (distance)
There’s a parking lot next to our building. (place)

Pues ya tienes el truco para saber cuál es la diferencia entre to y for en inglés. A partir de ahora antes de decir for to + verbo piensa si es mejor usar uno o otro en la frase que estás construyendo.

Si te gustan nuestros posts de errores comunes te recomendamos también: