To determine the correct preposition to fill in the blank, we need to consider the context and meaning of the sentence. Let's analyze the sentence:
"I don't like walking alone in the streets _____________ night."
- The sentence is talking about walking alone in the streets during a specific time, which is night.
- We need to choose a preposition that indicates the time when the action takes place.
Let's consider the options:
A:
- "On" is used to indicate specific days or dates, such as "on Monday" or "on July 1st."
- However, in this case, we are referring to a general time period (night) rather than a specific day or date.
B:
- "In" is used to indicate a period of time, such as "in the morning" or "in the evening."
- In this case, "in the night" would be grammatically correct, but it is not commonly used in English. We usually say "at night" instead.
C:
- "At" is used to indicate a specific time, such as "at 9 o'clock" or "at noon."
- In this case, "at night" is the correct preposition to indicate the time when the action of walking alone in the streets occurs.
D:
- "By" is used to indicate a time limit or deadline, such as "by tomorrow" or "by the end of the week."
- However, it does not fit the context of the sentence, as we are not referring to a time limit or deadline.
Therefore, the correct preposition to fill in the blank is "at" (option C). The sentence should be:
"I don't like walking alone in the streets at night."

Explanation:

Preposition 'at' is used to indicate a specific time or place.

- In this sentence, the preposition 'at' is the correct choice because it is referring to a specific time ('night').
- When talking about a particular time of day or night, we use 'at'. For example, we say "at noon," "at midnight," or "at night."
- The preposition 'on' is used to indicate days of the week or dates. For example, "on Monday" or "on the 15th of May."
- The preposition 'in' is used to indicate a general time period or location. For example, "in the morning" or "in the park."
- The preposition 'by' is used to indicate a method or means of doing something. For example, "by car" or "by phone."

Therefore, the correct preposition to use in this sentence is 'at,' making the sentence read: "I don’t like walking alone in the streets at night."