How to use in, on, at & of, and time & location prepositions - [Video]

27 March 2026

Author:

Berlitz

In Dubai and across the UAE and the Gulf, you’ll see these words and phrases show up in real - life conversations, study, and work.

In this English video lesson, get ready for a fun - filled journey through the world of in, on, at and of - those tricky little words that pop up everywhere, whether you’re talking about locations, times, dates, or describing your interests and skills. Press play to start learning, or follow along in the video summary below.

Time and location prepositions: Video summary
Prepositions are essential parts of speech that give context and show relationships between elements in a sentence. They indicate location, time, direction, and more. Mastering them is crucial for clear communication in English - whether you’re studying at the Berlitz Jumeirah Centre, attending corporate training in Dubai, or using online classes while travelling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Understanding prepositions in English grammar
Prepositions often form fixed combinations with certain words. A single choice between in / on / at can change meaning - for example, compare “I’ll meet you in Dubai” (broad area) with “I’ll meet you at Jumeirah Centre” (exact place). This lesson focuses on time and location uses and includes practice examples relevant to life in the UAE: classes at the Jumeirah Centre, meetings at Dubai Mall, or events on Jumeirah Beach Road. Use of in, on and at for location prepositions Using in In shows a wider area or general location: countries, cities, neighbourhoods, or enclosed spaces. Examples (UAE - tailored):

I live in the UAE.
She works in Dubai.
The language centre is in Jumeirah (near Jumeirah Beach). We study in the classroom at Jumeirah Centre during our English courses. Using on On is used for streets, surfaces, and some public transport. Examples:

The café is on Jumeirah Beach Road.

Put the brochure on the desk in reception.

The poster for the TOEFL workshop is on the noticeboard at the Jumeirah Centre. Using at for exact locations At pinpoints a precise location or venue. Examples: I have an appointment at Berlitz Jumeirah. The Business English seminar is at the convention centre in Dubai. Meet me at Gate 3 of the mall. Location prepositions for rooms and places
Use these when describing specific rooms and movements:

I am in the classroom for my private lesson.

The student waited outside the office for the placement test.

I walked out of the Jumeirah Centre reception.

I walked into the training room for the corporate workshop.

I put the pen into the case on the teacher’s desk.

I took the textbooks out of the cupboard in the study centre.

Those examples are useful for everyday phrases you’ll hear during placement tests, exam prep, or children’s programmes at the Jumeirah Centre. Time prepositions
Prepositions for time - in, on, at - help you be precise when scheduling lessons, meetings or social plans. Dates, days, and hours In = broader time frames (months, years, seasons): I have an intensive course in May. She started studying in 2023. On = days and dates: The next conversation club is on Monday. The workshop is on May 22nd at Jumeirah Centre. At = clock times and specific moments: The placement test starts at 09:30. The online class begins at 7:30 pm UAE time. These are the exact prepositions you’ll use when booking Jumeirah Centre online classes, IELTS preparation sessions, or Business English seminars. Common preposition combinations (interests & skills)
Some verbs and adjectives pair naturally with certain prepositions. These combinations come up a lot in CVs, interview practice, and spoken English classes:

interested in
- I’m interested in learning Arabic and Japanese.
good at
- She’s good at presentations (Business English workshop).
capable of
- He’s capable of leading a corporate training session.
These phrases are practiced in conversation clubs, job interview workshops, and English for hospitality courses at Jumeirah Centre. Preposition practice exercises:
Location drills - Describe where each course happens using in / on / at: Example answer: Our IELTS class is at Jumeirah Centre; the cultural workshop is in the Jumeirah neighbourhood; the meeting point is on Jumeirah Beach Road. Skills & interests - Write three sentences using interested in / good at / capable of about your study goals at Jumeirah Centre. Time practice - Give times for three future events: an online lesson at 6:00 pm, a weekend workshop on Saturday, and a month - long course in July. If you attend placement tests or exam prep sessions at the Jumeirah Centre, try to describe the schedule using the right prepositions - it’s great spoken practice. Quick reference - example sentences:
I’m studying in Dubai and take private lessons at Jumeirah Centre. The teacher left a note on the reception desk. We’ll meet at the main entrance of the Jumeirah Centre at 10:00. My IELTS class runs in the evenings in July. Join our Business English conversation club on Thursday evenings. Final tips & where to practice
Listen for prepositions in real - life contexts: city announcements, event invites, and class schedules. Practice with peers at Jumeirah Centre conversation clubs, during corporate training, or in online classes. We hope this video lesson and the UAE examples helped you master time and location prepositions. If you liked this, consider these next steps: Join a Jumeirah Centre English course or a conversation club. Try a placement test to see which class level fits you. For structured practice, Berlitz UAE can help - whether you learn at our Dubai branches (Jumeirah or JLT), study on-site in DIFC, or visit our Abu Dhabi branches in Khalidiya and Khalifa. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications for more language learning videos. For more free lessons, check out our English blog and the collection of video lessons and articles tailored for learners in the UAE.