Days and dates in English | When to use "on"

Being precise about dates in English means getting the hang of the preposition "on." It's what we use when talking about specific days and dates. Once you spot the patterns, they're actually pretty straightforward. Let's see exactly how it works.

Using "on" with days

When we talk about any day of the week — whether it's a one-time event or a regular activity — we use "on." This works for Monday through Sunday, weekends, and holidays.

For instance:

"I visit my grandparents on Saturdays."

"The meeting is on Monday."

"We exchange gifts on Christmas Day."

"On" with parts of the day

Sometimes you need to be more specific than just saying the day — you might need to add morning, afternoon, or evening. When you combine a day with a time like this, always use "on."

For example:

"I have a meeting on Monday morning."

"The game starts on Friday night."

"Let's meet on Tuesday afternoon."

"On" with specific dates

Calendar dates in English always need "on." Whether you're talking about holidays, birthdays, or deadlines, if you're mentioning a specific date — like April 15th or December 25th — use "on."

"My brother's birthday is on the 16th of March."

"The event starts on July 15th."

"They're launching the product on April 2nd."

So the next time you hesitate before saying a date, just remember — days and dates always go with "on."

You've got the rule — now hear it used naturally. Check out our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs video.