in/during/on summer vacation (2025)

Hello, everyone.

In asking a person about his plans on summer vacation, which of the sentences does make sense?
Can I use them interchangeably?

a. Where are you going to go on summer vacation?
b. Where are you going to go during summer vacation?
c. Where are you going to go in summer vacation?

Thanks a lot!

Hi Bagsensei,

c. is simply wrong, but the other two mean slightly different things, at least to me: a) implies that the entire vacation will be spent in the place you're asking about, while b) implies that only part of the vacation will. Others may disagree, though.

theartichoke said:

Hi Bagsensei,

c. is simply wrong, but the other two mean slightly different things, at least to me: a) implies that the entire vacation will be spent in the place you're asking about, while b) implies that only part of the vacation will. Others may disagree, though.

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Thank you very much, Theartichoke. That is very helpful.

GramBug1 said:

I would say:
a) What are your plans for the summer?
b) Where will you be going for your summer vacation?

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Thank you so much, GramBug. I'll keep that in mind.

May I have a follow up question.
If we make it in the past tense, could the sentences below work?

a. Where did you go on summer vacation? / What did you do on summer vacation?
b. Where did you go during summer vacation? / What did you do during summer vacation?
c. Where did you go this summer vacation? / What did you do this summer vacation?

Thank you.

theartichoke said:

All of the above sound fine to me. I would be less likely, though, to use "this summer vacation" to talk about something in the past. It's okay if it's the very recent past, but after a month or so, I'd probably say "this past summer vacation."

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Many thanks, Theartichoke. That's a great help.
Can I also use "the"?
- What did you do on/during

past summer vacation?

Believe it or not, I didn't see your response because I was away on summer vacation until yesterday.

"The" sounds OK to me if you use "during". It sounds a bit off with "on." I have no idea why.

theartichoke said:

Believe it or not, I didn't see your response because I was away on summer vacation until yesterday.

"The" sounds OK to me if you use "during". It sounds a bit off with "on." I have no idea why.

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Thank you so much, Theartichoke.