Variations of “I’m” with In / At / On (Place, Position, Time)
In spoken English, we often use “I’m” with in, at, and on to talk about place, position, and time.
These small words are very common and important for daily English conversation.
In this lesson, you will learn how to use I’m in, I’m at, and I’m on with easy explanations and examples.
“I’m” + IN (Inside a Place or Time Period)
We use “I’m in” when we talk about being inside a place or within a period of time.
Examples (Place):
- I’m in the room.
- I’m in the office.
- I’m in the kitchen.
Examples (Time):
- I’m in a meeting.
- I’m in my first year of college.
- I’m in the morning shift.
“I’m” + AT (Exact Place or Point in Time)
We use “I’m at” for a specific place or exact time or activity.
Examples (Place):
- I’m at home.
- I’m at school.
- I’m at the bus stop.
Examples (Activity / Time):
- I’m at work.
- I’m at lunch.
- I’m at a meeting.
“I’m” + ON (Surface, Transport, or Day/Date)
We use “I’m on” for surface, transport, or specific days and dates.
Examples (Place / Position):
- I’m on the bus.
- I’m on the train.
- I’m on the road.
Examples (Time):
- I’m on holiday on Monday.
- I’m on leave today.
- I’m on duty at night.
Conversation Examples
Conversation 1
A: Where are you now?
B: I’m at home. I’m in my room.
Conversation 2
A: Are you coming to the office?
B: No, I’m on the bus right now.
Conversation 3
A: What are you doing?
B: I’m in a meeting. I’ll call you later.
Practice Section
Say these sentences about yourself:
- I’m in ________.
- I’m at ________.
- I’m on ________.
Try to speak clearly and confidently.
Common Mistakes
❌ I’m in home
✅ I’m at home
❌ I’m at the bus
✅ I’m on the bus
❌ I’m on office
✅ I’m in the office
Quick Summary
- I’m in → inside a place or time period
- I’m at → exact place or activity
- I’m on → transport, surface, or specific day
These forms are very common in spoken English.
