Mastering “on that day”: Your Guide to Perfect English Fluency

Do you ever find yourself struggling to describe a specific moment in the past? English has many helpful phrases that pinpoint exact times. One such phrase, "on that day," is incredibly useful for ESL learners looking to improve their English grammar and achieve more natural sentence use. It's a key adverbial phrase of time that helps you describe precisely when something happened. Understanding how to use "on that day" correctly will greatly boost your fluency in English and help you modify verbs with precision. Let's dive in and master this common phrase!

Table of Contents

• What Does “on that day” Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “on that day”?
• Example Sentences with “on that day”
• When and How to Use “on that day”
• Summary and Practice Tip

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What Does “on that day” Mean?

The adverbial phrase "on that day" means on a specific, previously mentioned, or understood day. It points to a particular day in the past or future that has already been identified in the conversation or context. It functions primarily to tell us when an action occurred or will occur, acting as a verb modifier.

For example, if you're talking about a party, you might say, "The music was amazing on that day," referring to the day the party happened. It's used to bring focus to a particular twenty-four-hour period.

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What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “on that day”?

"On that day" is an adverbial phrase of time. Its grammatical structure is straightforward:

• Preposition: "on"
• Determiner: "that"
• Noun: "day"

This phrase typically describes when an action took place. It usually appears at the beginning or end of a sentence. Placing it at the beginning often adds emphasis.

Here are some common sentence patterns:

• Subject + Verb + [Adverbial Phrase]
  • They met on that day. (The phrase comes at the end)
• [Adverbial Phrase], Subject + Verb
  • On that day, everyone celebrated. (The phrase comes at the beginning)

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Example Sentences with “on that day”

Let's look at some sentence examples using "on that day" to see how it works in real conversations.

• I remember exactly what we talked about on that day.
• *On that day, the storm hit the coast unexpectedly.
• Person A: Did you finish the project when we discussed it? Person B: No, I couldn't complete it on that day due to an emergency.
• Person A: It was a chaotic meeting, wasn't it? Person B: Absolutely! I recall the exact moment the decision was made on that day.

When and How to Use “on that day”

"On that day" is commonly used when you are recounting a story, recalling specific events, or emphasizing a particular time. It's suitable for both formal and informal situations, including emails, speeches, and everyday conversation.

Typical use cases:

• Storytelling: "She promised she'd call back, but on that day, her phone was off."
• Recalling events: "I remember the exact feeling I had on that day."
• Highlighting importance: "*On that day, history was made."

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

One common mistake is confusing "on that day" with "in that day." "In that day" refers to a general period or era (e.g., "In that day, cars were rare"), while "on that day" is about a single, specific 24-hour period. Always use "on" for a specific date or day, as Cambridge Dictionary explains regarding prepositions of time here.

Another error is simply using "that day" when "on that day" is more precise or idiomatic, especially when the day is introduced by another phrase: e.g., "After the accident, he felt weak on that day" (better than just "that day" if you're specifying the duration of feeling weak relative to the event).

Summary and Practice Tip

In summary, "on that day" is a powerful adverbial phrase of time used to specify a particular day, usually one that has already been mentioned. It helps you add detail and clarity to your sentences, making your English sound more natural and precise. Remember it's an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs and telling you when.

To practice, try writing three sentences about something you did or observed last week. In each sentence, try to incorporate "on that day" to refer to a specific day you're thinking of. For example, "My train was delayed, and on that day, I arrived home very late." Keep practicing, and your English fluency will surely improve! Feel free to explore our other articles for more English grammar help and usage tips.