In, on, at and a, an, the: the Tiny Words game
The smallest words cause the most mistakes. Picture cards fall from the top — tap in, on, at or a, an, the before each one lands. Get it wrong and you see the rule at once; the card comes back a little later.
Tiny Words
How to play
Watch the card fall
A picture and a short English phrase with a gap: “The cat is ___ the box”.
Tap the right word
in, on, at — or a, an, the. Keys 1–3 work too. Every right answer in a row makes the cards fall faster and raises the multiplier.
Learn the rule
A wrong answer or a card that hits the ground costs a life and shows the rule. The card comes back three cards later.
The rules in one place
Every card in the game trains one of these rules. Read them once, then let the game make them automatic.
in, on, at with time
at + clock time
Use at for an exact time and a few fixed points: at 8 o’clock, at noon, at night, at Christmas, at the moment.
- School starts at 8 o’clock.
- Owls fly at night.
- The film starts at 6 pm.
- Let’s meet at noon.
on + days and dates
Use on for days of the week, dates and special days: on Monday, on 5 May, on my birthday, on Christmas Day.
- The shop opens on Monday.
- See you on Friday!
- We have a party on my birthday.
- The shops are closed on Christmas Day.
in + longer periods
Use in for months, years, seasons, parts of the day and decades: in July, in 2010, in winter, in the morning. Also “in ten minutes” = ten minutes from now.
- My holiday is in July.
- I get up early in the morning.
- It snows in winter.
- I was born in 2010.
in, on, at with places
in = inside
Use in for something inside a space or an area: in the box, in the kitchen, in the car, in London, in bed.
- The cat is in the box.
- The fish is in the water.
- I live in London.
- He is still in bed.
on = on a surface
Use on for a surface or a line, and for buses, trains and planes: on the chair, on the wall, on page 10, on the bus, on TV.
- The cat is on the chair.
- The picture is on the wall.
- The bird is on the roof.
- I’m on the bus.
at = at a point
Use at for a point or a place where something happens: at the door, at the bus stop, at school, at work, at home.
- Someone is at the door.
- Dad is at work.
- The kids are at school.
- She is at home now.
a, an, the
a + consonant sound
Use a with one thing that is not specific, before a consonant sound: a dog, a new bike, a teacher.
- She has a dog.
- He has a new bike.
- Can I have a banana?
- My mum is a teacher.
an + vowel sound
Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an elephant, an old house, an idea.
- I eat an apple every day.
- Look, an elephant!
- I want an ice cream.
- Take an umbrella.
It’s the sound, not the letter
Listen to the first sound: an hour, an honest man (silent h), but a university, a uniform, a one-way ticket (they start with a “y” or “w” sound).
- I’ll be back in an hour.
- She studies at a university.
- He is an honest man.
- I need a one-way ticket.
the + one of a kind
Use the for things there is only one of: the sun, the moon, the sky, the sea, the internet.
- The sun is very hot.
- Look at the moon!
- I found it on the internet.
- We swam in the sea.
the + we know which one
Use the when both speakers know which thing you mean: close the door; I have a cat — the cat is black.
- Please close the door.
- I have a cat. the cat is black.
- Where are the keys? I put them here.
the + best, first, only, same
Superlatives, first/second and words like only and same take the: the best player, the first day, the only child, the same street.
- She is the best player in the team.
- It was the first day of school.
- He is the only child in the family.
- We live in the same street.
the + instruments and fixed phrases
Play the guitar, play the piano, go to the cinema, listen to the radio.
- He plays the guitar.
- Let’s go to the cinema.
- Dad listens to the radio.
- She plays the piano very well.
Questions about prepositions and articles
What is the difference between in, on and at for time?
At is the smallest point (at 8 o’clock), on is a day (on Monday), in is a longer period (in July, in 2010, in winter). Think of it as a pyramid: at → on → in.
Is it “in the morning” or “on the morning”?
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening — but at night. When you name the day, use on: on Monday morning, on Saturday night.
When do I use a and when an?
It depends on the first sound, not the letter: an apple, an hour (the h is silent), but a university and a one-way ticket.
When do I use the?
When it is clear which thing you mean (close the door), when there is only one (the sun), with superlatives (the best) and in fixed phrases like play the guitar.
What is the daily challenge?
Fifteen cards — time, place and articles — the same for every player on a given day, with no lives. Share your result and come back tomorrow.