"on 23 April" vs. "at 23 April"

[Stone]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #96 "prepositions of time: for, ago, since, on, at", question 5

Shakespeare was born ......... 23 April, 1564.

(a) since
(b) on
(c) in
(d) at

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #96 "prepositions of time: for, ago, since, on, at", answer 5

Shakespeare was born on 23 April, 1564.

Correct answer: (b) on

Your answer was: incorrect
Shakespeare was born at 23 April, 1564.
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Dear Sir

why not "at" or "in" here

thanks a lot in advance

Stone

[Yankee]

Hi Stone

The basic "rule" is:

at a particular time of day (at 8 o'clock)

on a particular day or date (on Tuesday, on April 25th)

in a particular period of time such as a month or year (in April, in 2006)

There are some exceptions to this rule, but that's the basic info.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English